05:57 PM CST on Wednesday, January 25, 2006

By CHRIS HEINBAUGH / WFAA-TV

DMN archive.

Uninsured cars will be impounded after wrecks.

The Dallas Police Auto Pound is where cars involved in accidents will end up, if their drivers don't have insurance.

A unanimous city council approved the new policy but not all were enthusiastic.

Some fear the flood of cars will overwhelm the crowded impound lot.

And some say it will unevenly hurt minorities and the poor because the cost of getting towed climbs fast.

The towing, storage and impound fee is $136. Then $20 a day storage fee every day after.

After 48 hours, there's a $50 notification fee to let the owner know, if he doesn't collect his car, it will be sold at auction.

Add that to the price of buying new insurance, just after an accident.

Some say, they should tow even for simple traffic violations.

"That's when it needs to be confiscated. If they do not have insurance, that's the law. The law is they have to have insurance," said council member Mitchell Rasansky.

This policy doesn't do that. But most say, it does make the point.

The tentative start date is April 1st; after that, uninsured drivers could lose their cars here for good.