Senate committee advances bill allowing 90-day impoundment for certain traffic offenses, adds agency-policy and stolen-vehicle exceptions

The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety advanced Senate Bill 6, which would authorize a law-enforcement officer to impound vehicles when an officer arrests or issues a citation for certain traffic violations and set a default 90-day impoundment period.

The bill, as amended, requires that an officer’s agency have a written impoundment policy before the officer may impound under the law and creates an exception allowing immediate return of a vehicle reported as stolen without payment of fees. The committee approved two amendments and then recommended passage of the bill; the executive-session tally later in the record shows the measure advanced on a committee vote of 5–2.

Why it matters: The measure expands police authority to remove vehicles tied to specified traffic offenses and establishes a presumption of a lengthy impoundment period. Advocates characterize the bill as a tool to remove repeat reckless drivers…