Commentary: The Fate of the Furious: 30 days at the impound

Recently, Los Angeles has seen a dramatic and alarming 43% increase in traffic-related fatalities, with 260 traffic deaths occurring in 2016. This rate is continuing to increase and in 2017 is already significantly higher than it was at this time last year. Unfortunately, these rising rates of local traffic fatalities are part of a nationwide upward trend.

Traffic accidents are a growing threat to the lives of people across the state, especially in densely populated areas such as the 43rd Assembly District. Undoubtedly, distracted driving due to cell phones and other issues are partly to blame. But illegal street racing and reckless driving are also part of the problem — a problem we need to address urgently, before more lives are lost.

My bill, AB 1393, which just recently passed the Assembly with bipartisan support and is now on its way to the Senate, would mandate a 30-day impound penalty for any car used in a speed contest or reckless driving. I should note that “reckless driving” is a special designation not for average speed violations, but for driving that clearly and inarguably endangers the lives of others through highly excessive speeds and handling. This bill would also require that all illegal modifications — like tinted windows and modified exhaust pipes — be removed from the car before it could be released back to the owner.

According to numerous studies and statistics, mandatory 30-day impounds and the confiscation of illegal modifications are proven deterrents to those who participate in reckless driving and racing. Under current law, it is often the case that drivers who have had their cars impounded for these crimes simply pay the fines and return to the road. The penalties required by AB 1393 would prove an effective deterrent against recidivism.

At the same time, my bill takes into consideration certain limited exceptions, for instance, if a teenager illegally raced a family car that a parent depended on for transportation to and from work. In that case, the authorities would work with the family to make sure they would not be adversely affected by the irresponsible behavior of a minor child.

During my seven years on the Glendale City Council, one of the persistent and intractable issues our city faced was ongoing problems with street racing, pedestrian accidents, and speeding. I’ve seen first-hand the impact of high-speed accidents on the individual families involved and the community at large. But as we can see from the data coming back from across Southern California and even across the country, this is not an isolated problem.

We need action across all levels of government to address traffic safety, from reengineering our streets and pedestrian crosswalks to intensified education and enforcement. One important piece of the puzzle is giving law enforcement the tools they need to hold reckless drivers accountable, and to deter them from breaking the law again. AB 1393 is designed to break the cycle of illegal street racing and save lives.

My hope is that AB 1393 will see the same level of support in the Senate and the Governor’s office as it had in the Assembly and we can see our streets become a safer place for both drivers and pedestrians.

LAURA FRIEDMAN (D-Glendale) represents La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, Glendale, Burbank and neighboring communities in the the 43rd Assembly District.