Police Log: Hey, Motorists! You Need License To Drive

At least nine motorists were caught driving in Livermore last week without valid licenses. 

And that was a "slow week," according to records. Unlicensed-driver violations typically average a dozen a week. 

In 2011, Livermore police impounded 766 vehicles driven by unlicensed motorists, said Sgt. John Hurd, adding that such drivers are severe safety hazards and involved in the majority of hit-and run accidents. 

"We don't want people who are not supposed to be driving, driving down our roadways," Hurd said. 

Whether their licenses were revoked, suspended, expired or never issued to begin with, unlicensed drivers can be in hot water facing possible citations or arrests, plus having their vehicles impounded.   

"It can be very expensive to have a vehicle impounded for 30 days," Hurd said.

Livermore police do not target the improperly licensed; offenders are discovered after being stopped for traffic infractions, he said.

A new law that went into effect in January 2012 prohibits authorities from impounding vehicles of unlicensed drivers  — albeit sober ones — at DUI checkpoints.

But that only applies to DUI checkpoints, Hurd said.

Motorists who were never issued licenses or whose licenses were revoked or suspended will have their cars impounded for 30 days if stopped on city streets, he said.

Once licensing is straightened out, violators pay a $282 release fee, plus towing-company costs and storage, to regain their vehicles, Hurd said, noting that the fines, while hefty, cover department costs for these offenses.

And despite the dozen or so illegal motorists stopped each week, Hurd estimates that's only a fraction of how many are actually out there. 

"It's serious," he said.

In other police news:  

Saturday, April 14

• Suspected public-intoxication arrests made: 2 a.m. along 2200 First Street; and of a man, 51, at 4:53 p.m. on 3900 East Avenue.
• Motorist with marijuana cited at 8 p.m. along 700 East Stanley Boulevard.
• Assault with criminal threats reported at 8 a.m. on the 1400 block of Portola Meadows Road.
• Grand theft recorded on the 2400 block of Livorno Court at 12:01 a.m. 

Friday, April 13

• Battery reported at 5:15 p.m. along 700 East Stanley Boulevard.
• Car break-ins logged at 11 a.m. along 2000 Arroyo Road and 11:40 a.m. on 1400 Railroad Avenue.
• Vandalism cited at 7:05 p.m. on 2300 Senger Street.
• Noise complaint filed at 11 a.m. on the 5000 block of Arroyo Road.
• Motorist driving on suspended license reported at 11:40 a.m. on Junction Avenue and Walnut Street.
• Suspected DUI arrests made: 2:06 a.m. on South O and Third streets; and male motorist at 1:44 a.m. on Mines and Patterson Pass roads.
• Police obstruction/interference reported at 1:41 a.m. on First and South K streets.
• Vehicle reported stolen at 9:30 p.m. on the 2600 block of Pickfair Lane.
• Stolen vehicle from another jurisdiction recovered at 9:05 p.m. along 1300 Portola Avenue.

Thursday, April 12

• Two suspected domestic assaults reported: at 1:58 a.m. along 900 Catalina Drive; and on the 3500 block of Leahy Way at 7:59 a.m., in which a Livermore female, 27, was arrested.
• Residential burglary logged on the 1000 block of Lexington Way at 10:55 a.m.
• Shoplifting reported at 6:56 p.m. on 2900 Las Positas Road.
• Suspected DUI arrests made of a Pleasanton man, 21, at 2:42 a.m. on Bluebell Drive and Las Flores Road, and of a male motorist at 11:18 p.m. on South Vasco Road and East Avenue.
• Bank-robbery arrests .

Wednesday, April 11

• Stolen vehicle reported at 5 p.m. along 3500 Las Positas Road.
• Bench warrant arrest made at 6:30 p.m. on the 600 block of North L Street.
• Motorist driving on suspended license cited at 9:45 a.m. on First Street and Portola Avenue.
• Hit-and-run with property damage reported at 12:30 p.m. along 300 Church Street.

Tuesday, April 10

• Residential burglary reported at 7:50 a.m. along 1800 Bluebell Drive.
• Theft of motor parts logged at 8:30 a.m. along 2700 Fourth Street.
• Motorists driving on suspended licenses included: on Fifth and South L streets at 7:20 a.m.; 8 a.m. on East Stanley Boulevard and Wall Street; and at 1 p.m. on Railroad Avenue and South L Street.
• Bottle bombs reportedly along 700 South O Street at 3:30 p.m.

Monday, April 9

• Identity theft logged at 9:53 a.m. on the 1300 block of Chateau Common.
• Motorist driving without a license reported at 8:50 a.m. on Catalina Drive and Holmes Street.
• Car break-in cited at 10 p.m. along 1600 Marsala Court.
• Suspected controlled-substance possession arrests: 3:40 a.m. on Bellflower Street and Sunflower Court; and of a Livermore man, 27, 3:30 p.m. on North O and Walnut streets.
• A Livermore female, 35 was arrested at 9:32 p.m. on the 4600 block of Amy Court for suspected DUI, driving on suspended license, controlled-substance possession and use.
• A Livermore male, 30, was arrested for alleged possession of drug paraphernalia, 5:10 p.m., on Chestnut Street and North Livermore Avenue.

Sunday, April 8

• Public intoxication reported at 2:13 a.m. along 2100 First Street.
• Controlled-substance possession reported at 1:12 a.m. along 10100 Patterson Pass Road.
• A Livermore man, 36, was arrested for suspected DUI and being under the influence of illegal substances at 8:40 a.m. on the 900 block of Bluebell Drive.
• A Livermore male, 31, was arrested for suspected controlled-substance use at 9:13 a.m. on North I Street at Railroad Avenue.
• Motorist driving on suspended license reported at 2:20 a.m. on El Caminito and East Stanley Boulevard.
• Vandalism cited at 5:30 p.m. along 4600 Lassen Road.
• Thefts reported at noon from a building on 1800 Portola Avenue, and 8 p.m. from a 1400 Darwin Avenue building.
• Thefts of motor parts logged at 9 a.m. on 200 Church Street, and at 11 a.m. along 6700 Preston Avenue.
• Car break-in reported at 8:15 a.m. on 1400 Railroad Avenue.
• Gang-related gunfire at 1:45 p.m. along Walnut Street.
• Injury accident on Murrieta Boulevard at 10 p.m.