VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 2, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Trustee Gaffino called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Faber, Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock, Water Superintendent Paul Young, Chief David Summer, Village Clerk Lori Murray.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
APROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Approval of Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes dated November 4,
2013
Motion for approval made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Gaffino. All in favor. Motion approved.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Discussion of Vehicle Towing and Impoundment Administrative Fee
Chief Summer provided an overview of the consideration of an ordinance imposing an administrative fee of towed vehicles for certain violations of state laws and local ordinances.
Chief noted that this would result in up to a $500 impound fee for anyone arrested in a DUI. That $500 would be restricted for use with any DUI enforcement related task, including personnel and equipment. Other Communities do the same thing. What’s unique with this draft ordinance, is it’s more open ended. Funds would go to the general fund. Looking at the ordinance, if North Aurora proceeds with the concept, and the focus is on DUI efforts, all of which has due process, this is spelled out in the ordinance. The fee would go to a special DUI fund to use for salaries or equipment for DUI enforcement. As the ordinance states, this money would be used to defray costs that is spent on officer’s time and other resources. Trustee Lowery noted that this saves the taxpayer money.
Trustee Lowery thought it is a good idea and may serve as a deterrent. His concern is with poor people who need their vehicles, and wonder if there can be an exception for poverty issues. Summer noted, that if they apply for a hearing, with him being the hearing officer, issues like that can be taken into account during the hearing process, and we could work with people who have a financial hardship. In the hearing process, the hearing agent would make the determination.
Trustee Gaffino asked if the financial burden is because they would need car to go to work or just that they can’t afford the fine. Are they suspended from driving immediately? State statute impounds a vehicle 42 to 78 hours after arrest. Statutory suspension doesn’t kick in until 46 days and they would have to have a hearing before the court. Trustee Gaffino doesn’t know if he would be in favor of providing for a hardship.
Trustee Faber noted this is why we have the layers of the court system and would hope that the hearing officer can step in and make a decision based on the individual.
Chief Summer noted that the examples from other communities include other things besides DUI enforcement and it could give us more options. If the Committee wants to consider this, we can include this to the ordinance.
Trustee Faber asked if this included Cannabis. Chief noted the operation or use of a vehicle in the commission of anything that has to do with the cannabis control act and substance abuse control act, etc. it pretty much covers it all. It would be up to the officer’s discretion with regard to impounding a vehicle for cannabis.
Chief Summer will provide copies of the Sugar Grove and Montgomery ordinance and move forward with a hybrid of all the ordinances
Trustee Lowery likes the idea of adding more than just DUI for impounding vehicles. Chief Summer stated he will bring this to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion.
OLD BUSINESS – None
OTHER INFORMATION – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Lowery and seconded by Trustee Faber. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Cindy Torraco
Deputy Village Clerk
