STANTON : Mayor Pushes Plan to Deter Prostitution
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Despite objections from city lawyers, Mayor Sal Sapien will seek countywide support for a plan to impound cars used in prostitution and charge $500 for their return.
“Let’s take those big limos away,” Sapien said.
Sapien first made the suggestion at a recent City Council meeting, saying officials in Chicago have begun a similar program. He asked City Atty. Thomas W. Allen to see if Stanton could do the same.
But Allen told the council last week that California law prohibits a city’s collecting fees beyond the towing cost.
Undeterred, Sapien told the council that he would petition legislation making impoundment legal and will ask for support from the Coalition of Mayors of West Orange County and the League of California Cities, Orange County Division.
Councilman David John Shawver was dubious that Sapien will get the law changed.
“The state would be losing control, and they’re not going to let you do that,” he told Sapien.
Shawver also said the city would be open to legal liability for any mistaken seizures.
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