About Time

There ought to be plenty of parking on the south and west sides once this passes:

• Motorists who get pulled over in Chicago with a suspended or revoked driver’s license soon could see their cars impounded under a proposal approved today by a City Council committee.

  They also would face a fine of $500 plus towing and storage fees.

  The proposal could be approved by the full council as soon as the next meeting on April 22.

  Ald. Thomas Allen (38th) said he proposed the ordinance after a police officer told him that cops could not impound a vehicle even if the driver was found to be driving without a valid license. He said his motivation was to make Chicago’s streets safer.

And of course, the standard resistance arises:

• Only Ald. Howard Brookins (21st) voted against the measure at today’s joint session of the council Traffic and Police Committees.

  “I think it’s too harsh,” Brookins. “$500 is a heckuva price to pay.”

We have to pay for functional wheels, maintain the engine in accordance with clean air laws, carry insurance, buy annual stickers, and be in full compliance lest we get suspended from work. But Brookins thinks that's too harsh? If he wants to suspend the rule of law, he can propose to do so, but until that time, obey the freaking law!