Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Roseville adopts $250 impound fee for out‑of‑class e‑devices; police outline education‑first rollout
Summary
City council adopted a $250 cost‑recovery impound fee for out‑of‑class e‑devices and pocket bikes and backed an education‑first enforcement pilot with Roseville City School District; staff flagged storage and lithium battery safety concerns.
The Roseville City Council voted June 3 to adopt a $250 impound fee for out‑of‑class electronic devices and pocket bikes to recover administrative costs tied to removal, seizure and storage.
Chief of Police Jeffrey (first name only in the record) said recent state legislation (AB 875) added authority under the California Vehicle Code to impound certain e‑devices and allowed local governing bodies to adopt fees equal to administrative costs. Police staff said a department fee study estimated the direct administrative cost and storage work at roughly $250 and recommended a flat fee for simplicity.
Katie Braverman, the police department’s property and evidence administrator, described logistical challenges: devices are booked into property, must be tagged and moved between storage areas, and many of the devices are powered by lithium batteries. "The final recommended fee we came up with is the $250," Braverman said, adding the fee is intended to cover staff time and tagging costs with no profit.
Police staff told council they will couple the new authority with an education‑first enforcement campaign. Lieutenant Courtney Escoria described a partnership with the Roseville City School District that will focus initially on middle schools with outreach at events such as back‑to‑school nights; enforcement dates would follow after parents and students receive education opportunities.
Public commenters asked how the city would handle unclaimed devices and the cost of long‑term storage, and suggested student‑led education projects or first‑time waivers for violators who complete an educational assignment. Staff said unclaimed property is a challenge because of battery disposal rules and that devices are generally held at least 48 hours before they may move toward a longer disposition process, often 90 days depending on circumstances.
On a unanimous roll call, council adopted resolution 26‑167 to incorporate the $250 impound fee into the city’s master fee schedule. Staff will return the fee language for inclusion in the next comprehensive fee study and begin the school outreach campaign in summer so education efforts align with the fall school year.
