Los Fresnos to consider insurance ordinance

The Los Fresnos City Council tonight will consider an ordinance that would allow the Los Fresnos Police Department to tow vehicles when drivers are unable to provide proof of auto insurance.

The vehicles would be impounded until the uninsured driver purchases liability insurance. The measure is meant to persuade drivers to purchase insurance before a costly accident occurs.

According to Los Fresnos Police Chief James Harris, more than 25 percent of drivers in the area are uninsured. Right now, LFPD officers issue citations for those who lack insurance, but that policy is often ineffective.

"You can keep issuing citations, but people still don't buy insurance," Harris said. "If they get into an accident, those with insurance would get the bad end of the stick."

Towing vehicles belonging to uninsured drivers would be a far more effective deterrent, Harris said.

"It would make them realize they need to get insurance quickly."

The City of Harlingen implemented such a policy in May, when city commissioners voted unanimously and without discussion on May 21, according to the Valley Morning Star.

But three weeks after the vote, no vehicles had been towed under the new law, according the Star,

If the ordinance is adopted in Los Fresnos, the city's two towing companies, All Valley and A & M could have their hands full. The two companies now share towing responsibilities.