Question of the week: Should LAPD impound unlicensed drivers' cars?

In response to immigration advocacy groups' claim that DUI checkpoints target and unfairly penalize illegal immigrants, the Los Angeles Police Department has softened its vehicle impound policies.

Before, vehicles were automatically seized from unlicensed drivers at a checkpoint, regardless of whether they were found to be inebriated. Now, if a vehicle's registered owner arrives to the scene in a reasonable time and is a licensed driver, the vehicle may be released to that person.

Also, if the unlicensed driver is the vehicle owner but has a licensed passenger, their passenger can opt to take the vehicle. In all cases, the driver will still be cited.

This is a major relief to drivers who have incurred large impound fees under the city's 30-day minimum impound requirement for people driving without a valid license. The fine, towing and fees can easily top $1,000.

And, if checkpoints are about upholding the safety of the public, allowing a sober, licensed passenger to operate the owner's vehicle is just as constructive and far less expensive.

Still, some believe the less stringent rules increase the risk to public safety and are yet another loophole encouraging illegal immigrants to break the law.

What do you think?

Do you believe the new protocol is a fair alternative to the automatic tow rules of the past? If not, why?

Does the new impound law let illegal immigrants off the hook?

Send your

responses to opinionated@dailynews.com. Please include your full name, the community or city in which you live and your daytime phone number. We'll print as many as we can in Sunday's Opinionated section.

Rachel Blanchard Shania Twain Mandy Moore Penélope Cruz Thalía