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Carmel amends micro-mobility ordinance to let police impound devices and pursue forfeiture in criminal cases
Summary
Councilors moved to carve out two immediate police-requested provisions from a broader micro-mobility ordinance: authority to impound devices in certain circumstances and forfeiture when a device is used in criminal activity; the council suspended rules and acted to make the provisions effective upon publication.
The Carmel Common Council amended a newly introduced micro-mobility ordinance to preserve two provisions the Carmel Police Department asked for: authority to impound an e-mobility device in specified circumstances and a forfeiture provision if a device is used in connection with criminal activity.
Councilors said the broader ordinance covers many subjects and would benefit from committee review, but police and other advocates urged immediate authority for impoundment and forfeiture to address reckless behavior, repeat offenses and incidents where devices are used to evade officers. One council member said impoundment and forfeiture provisions will help when devices are used while fleeing law enforcement.
Corporation Counsel Sergei Gertrzukin confirmed that sections of the ordinance dealing with impoundment and forfeiture (retained in the amended ordinance) would become effective once the ordinance is published. He also noted the city already has some statutory options that the ordinance can reference and that more detailed committee work will continue on the remaining provisions.
Councilors directed remaining broader micro-mobility topics to land-use committee for further study and allowed the immediate impoundment and forfeiture language to move forward to give police a tool the department said it needs now.
