Texas City to Impound Cars of Uninsured Drivers

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The Corpus Christi (Texas) Police Department is going to start impounding the cars of uninsured drivers, officials said.

About one in three Nueces County, Texas, drivers are uninsured, compared to about one in five statewide, Chief Bryan Smith has said.

The City Council authorized the program in November. The police planned to begin enforcing it Feb. 1.

“It’s pretty simple — the law requires drivers to have the minimum amount of liability coverage,” Capt. Todd Green said. “Anyone that doesn’t carry that insurance now runs the risk of having their vehicle impounded and a citation issued.”

Officers will have some discretion in deciding when to tow, police officials have said.

The city’s impound lot has a capacity of 540 vehicles in dry weather. Green said the department is studying other storage areas should overcrowding be a problem.