73 Vehicles Impounded in Traffic Crackdown

Los Angeles police on Wednesday impounded 73 vehicles and issued 168 citations, nearly four times the usual number, in a special one-day crackdown on unlicensed drivers and unregistered vehicles in the San Fernando Valley, authorities said.

In addition, officers arrested 14 motorists on outstanding warrants, most of them for misdemeanor traffic violations, Officer Bill Mulvihill said.

Fifty officers assigned to the department’s Valley Traffic Division participated in the crackdown, which lasted from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mulvihill said. On most days, officers impound from 10 to 20 vehicles in the Valley. But officers assigned to the task force focused exclusively on unlicensed drivers and unregistered vehicles and did not respond to other calls, such as accidents, Mulvihill said.

The penalties were imposed only for motorists who had been stopped for other traffic violations, such as speeding or driving with expired license plate stickers, Mulvihill said.