Resident says car was impounded and hearing denied; city agrees to follow up

Carlos Lopez told the City Council on July 9 that his vehicle had been impounded after an officer cited him for driving on a suspended license tied to a 2016 ticket and that he was denied a hearing to shorten the impound period.

"I it it appears to me that there's no appeal process for the decisions made. I was denied a hearing. My car was kept 30 days, and, I don't understand why I was denied hearing that," Lopez said during the public statements period.

Lopez said he had difficulty returning to Redding at the time to address a failure-to-appear and that he is retired. He also described experience working with people who are homeless and said a recent long-distance bicycle trip led him to camp on the riverbank, where his bicycle was stolen and where he became more directly familiar with homelessness in the city.

After Lopez finished speaking the mayor and staff said the council had his contact information and would have staff follow up. "So we have your contact information, and I'll give it to the appropriate person so somebody can follow-up with you," a council official said.

The remarks occurred during the council's public statements period; Lopez asked staff to review whether an appeal or hearing option was available in his case and requested follow-up. The meeting record does not show a formal council vote or other action on the impound matter at the session.

Less-critical details: Lopez said the original ticket dated to 2016 and that he had been a Reginald Heber Smith poverty law fellow and served on local nonprofit boards, and that his car was held for 30 days after he was cited.