IMPOUND BILL ON ARNOLD'S DESK MEASURE WOULD STOP SEIZURE OF SOME CARS.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Sacramento Bureau

A bill sitting on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk could exempt illegal immigrants and unlicensed teenagers from vehicle-impound laws that apply to other drivers who are arrested for driving with suspended and revoked licenses.

The bill requires the police to return vehicles to their registered owners who present a valid registration and driver's license. So if police stop a joyriding teenager or an illegal immigrant who is borrowing a friend's car, they cannot impound the vehicle if the owner shows up with a valid license, as they can under current law.

Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont, said his bill was not aimed at illegal immigrants, but at families where an unlicensed teen might ``borrow'' the family car and then get stopped by police, causing the vehicle to be impounded for 30 days.

``The bill is intended to address situations where basically the licensed owner is unfairly punished because of the actions of someone else, perhaps a minor child in the family, someone who steals a car or takes it for a joy ride,'' said Sam Delson, a Torrico aide. ``The licensed owner under current law faces a severe penalty.''

Schwarzenegger has not yet taken a position on the bill.

But opponents said vehicle owners should be held responsible for how the vehicle is used.

``I don't believe we should be softening the penalties against those who are driving without a license in the state of California,'' said Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, who voted against the bill.

``Potentially many of those driving without a license are probably illegal immigrants. I do not want to soften the law on that.''

Under current law, police can seize and impound a vehicle for 30 days if the driver does not have a license, or has a suspended or revoked license.

Current law also allows illegal immigrants to own, register and insure vehicles, but does not allow them to have valid California driver's licenses, according to state officials.

A bill sent this month to the governor, SB 60, by Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain licenses, but Schwarzenegger is expected to veto it.

Another Cedillo bill that is still pending in the Legislature would specifically exempt illegal immigrants from the impound requirements, without needing the vehicle's owner to present a valid license. A number of law enforcement agencies have written to ask Schwarzenegger to veto the Torrico bill, including California Highway Patrol Commissioner M.L. Brown, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca; the San Fernando Valley Traffic Advisory Council; and San Fernando Police Chief Anthony Alba.

Harrison Sheppard, [phone]

harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com