AURORA | Aurora’s new “three-strike” traffic law has resulted in almost 300 cars being impounded since October, highlighting one “strike” over the others — fake temporary license plates. 

Aurora police started enforcing the new “three-strikes” Aurora law Nov. 5. The law requires police to tow and impound vehicles of drivers who are simultaneously committing three traffic offenses behind the wheel: no driver’s license, no proof of insurance and no valid license plate. 

The new law was sponsored by Councilmember Stephanie Hancock, who said she was prompted by complaints about road safety.

The Aurora Police Department began impounding vehicles for the triple violations in November. During this time, they carried out a host of special enforcement actions. Many of the impounds, however, have resulted during routine traffic patrols, police said.

Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 18, Aurora police have towed 290 vehicles of drivers deemed violating the new law, according to police spokesperson Joe Moylan. The number has increased by 100 in just the last two weeks. 

Drivers caught without the three required documents can retrieve their vehicles only after presenting proof of registration, insurance and a valid driver’s license — or bringing a licensed driver on their behalf along with valid registration and insurance— within 30 days.

After 30 days, the cars are seized and sold at a police auction, according to the new ordinance. It’s unclear if any cars have been permanently seized so far from the enforcement.

Offenders are able to bring required documents to the city car impound lot to retrieve their vehicle. Ticketed drivers must also appear for a court date, providing the required documents and face fines.

Under this new rule, the vehicle impoundment is $240. The police department administration fee is $47.25, and the tow-lot storage fee is $40 a day. According to Moylan, contract towing companies are also entitled to a one-time $150 fee. This fee applies to vehicles impounded for three or more days. Added together, it means scofflaws face fines that start at more than $400. If the car is left in impound for a month, that could add another $1,200. In addition those ticketed face court fines for each traffic infraction, no license, no registration and no insurance.

When asked what happens to people who have everything updated but are unable to find documents after being pulled over, Schulte said that officers can verify remotely if everything is up to date.

“In Colorado, pretty much every state now, active insurance is reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles, and it is on the registration when an officer runs it,” he said. 

Sgt. Scott Benedict, a department supervisor, said those ticketed with strikes” are pulled over for many reasons, missing license plates, speeding and a host of other traffic infractions. . 

“It’s a variety of everything,” he said. 

He said that officers confronting drivers with no license, registration or insurance say they’re aware of state traffic laws, but motorists are shocked when their cars are towed.

“I think a lot of people know that it’s already a possibility, and then when they actually get their car towed because of their status — as far as not having the required documentation — I think the reality of it kind of sinks in,” Benedict said.

Benedict said that while police so far have not analyzed the data, violators, the location, suspected offenses and even the drivers themselves .

“It’s not specific to one area,” he said. “It’s pretty widespread with these violations into the demographics of the people that were contacted.”

Although the new law is tripped by violating all three driver requirements at the same time, some of the violations carry bigger fines than others.

Possessing or displaying “fictitious” temporary tags — that dated piece of paper you get when you buy a vehicle — carries a larger fine than simply having an expired license plate, as it represents a “false claim of legitimacy,” Benedict said. 

Fake temporary tags or license plates can be purchased online at places advertised on Facebook and other social media sites. Benedict said the Department of Motor Vehicles is the only legitimate place to buy temporary tags. 

He said that while the department tries to educate the public, it maintains a zero-tolerance policy for these fraudulent practices. Benedict said he wants to continue to find as many ways as possible to tell all residents in Aurora that temporary tags or plates bought on Facebook are fraudulent. 

The insurance of it all

The sponsor of the new Aurora law, Hancock, has talked recently about ensuring motorists are ensured as being a big part of the inspiration of pushing the measure into law.

Colorado has a high rate of uninsured drivers, at 17.5%, ranking it ninth out of 50 states in 2022, according to the Insurance Research Council. 

“The cost of insurance has impacted our city in a negative way,” Hancock said at the end of a council meeting Dec. 16. “So much so that some of the carriers have left the area and will not insure anymore. This is because we’ve had so many claims for people who are driving uninsured.”

State officials and available data say that’s inaccurate. 

Hancock made similar claims at a Council meeting on Sept. 23 that insurance companies were leaving the state because of uninsured motorists issues.

George Daley, a senior regulatory analyst for the Colorado Division of Insurance, said he has not heard of companies leaving Colorado or Aurora because of uninsured drivers, but he has heard of rates going up drastically.

“Auto Insurance is pretty straightforward,” he said. “It’s a very simple cause and effect; If you have more people who are worse drivers, who are not insured as they’re supposed to be, chances are you’re just going to be paying really high rates. They don’t necessarily pull out.”

Colorado is what is known as a rates-on-file state, he said. This means that the state does not approve rates in terms; companies let the state know how they’re changing the rate and then charge it. 

“So I think a bigger concern would not necessarily be whether or not they’re pulling out, but how much they’re increasing premiums,” he said.

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