Ordinance would give city impound power

By Staff
Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Drivers tooling around Hartselle without their license could soon find themselves without a vehicle.
Mayor Dwight Tankersley said he’d like to see Hartselle adopt an ordinance that would allow the city to impound a car if the operator is found not to have a valid drivers license. Similar ordinances were passed earlier this year in Athens and Madison and are being considered in Decatur.
The ordinance would allow vehicles to be impounded if the driver is found to not have a license. Tankersley said he originally considered including those driving without insurance to the impound plan, but City Attorney Larry Madison said the city can’t include uninsured motorists in the ordinance.
If a driver’s car is impounded, they would have to pay fines and towing fees in order to retrieve the vehicle.
Athens adopted its ordinance in August. According to published reports, the city impounded 299 vehicles in the first four weeks after it was passed.