NC’s undocumented immigrants fear proposal to confiscate cars of unlicensed drivers | Charlotte Observer

A bill introduced this week in the N.C. General Assembly will make it tougher for people who are in the country illegally to drive unhindered in North Carolina.

House Bill 341, introduced by Onslow County Republican George Cleveland, would require officers to tow and store vehicles operated by motorists charged with driving without a license – a crime common among the tens of thousands of people living illegally in the state.

The proposal was introduced Tuesday and quickly drew the attention of immigrant advocates because undocumented immigrants are not allowed to get a driver’s license in the state. In North Carolina, that amounts to an estimated 338,000 people, including 54,000 living illegally in Mecklenburg County.

“It’s all part of a plan to intimidate and paralyze our community,” N.C. immigrant advocate Martha Hernandez said in an interview with the Spanish language news service EFE.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have a policy of showing leniency to unlicensed drivers by allowing them to go free if they can produce any form of ID to prove their identity.

That practice has drawn criticism of state leaders, who see it as proof Charlotte is a so-called “sanctuary city” for people in the country illegally.

However, Cleveland said through a spokeswoman that this bill is more about road safety than about singling out any group of violators.

“Rep. Cleveland also has a problem with the fact that after the non-licensed driver has been given a ticket, he is still allowed to drive away, thereby continuing to break the law,” said a statement issued by Cleveland’s office.

Data provided by Cleveland shows there were 58,741 charges related to driving without insurance and 126,704 charges for driving without a license in North Carolina last year. The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles estimates 91,693 uninsured drivers are on the road, and another 672,898 drivers with revoked/suspended licenses.

Under the proposal, those caught driving without a license would have to get someone to pick up their vehicle within one hour of being stopped or the vehicle would be towed and stored for a fee of no more than $10 a day.

The only way to get the vehicle back would be to present a valid driver’s license or to prove the owner did not know an unlicensed driver was operating the vehicle when it was stopped by police.

If the vehicle is not reclaimed within 90 days, the towing and storage service can put a lien on the vehicle and sell it to recover the money.