Reckless driving: speed contests: vehicle impoundment.

Under existing law, a person who drives a vehicle upon a highway or in an offstreet parking facility in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is guilty of reckless driving, punishable by imprisonment in the county jail or by the payment of a fine, or both imprisonment and a fine, as specified. Existing law makes it a crime to engage in a motor vehicle speed contest on a highway. If a person is convicted of engaging in a motor vehicle speed contest on a highway and the vehicle used in the violation is registered to that person, existing law allows the vehicle to be impounded at the registered owner's expense for not less than one day and not more than 30 days. Existing law allows a peace officer to arrest a person and seize the motor vehicle of the person if a peace officer determines that the person was engaged in a motor vehicle speed contest, reckless driving, or an exhibition of speed on a highway. Existing law allows a vehicle seized under this provision to be impounded for up to 30 days. This bill would, with respect to a conviction for reckless driving, or a conviction for engaging in a speed contest, if the person convicted is the registered owner of the vehicle, allow the vehicle to be impounded for 30 days for a first offense and require the vehicle to be impounded for 30 days for a 2nd or subsequent offense, at the registered owner's expense. The bill would allow the impoundment period to be reduced by the number of days, if any, that the vehicle was previously impounded, and would authorize the court to decline to impound the vehicle if it would cause undue hardship for the defendant's family, as specified. The bill would authorize the release of the vehicle to the legal owner before the 30th day of impoundment, if specified conditions are met. With regard to speed contests, this bill would authorize an officer to issue a notice to correct for violation of a mechanical or safety requirement and require correction to be made within 30 days after the date upon which the vehicle was released from impoundment. The bill would require the violation to be dismissed upon correction, as specified. By imposing new requirements on local agencies responsible for vehicle impoundment, the bill would create a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.