Missouri police caught driving impounded cars
From Sunshine Review
20 July 2008
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The St. Louis municipality has enacted an ordinance which allows police officers the ability to confiscate vehicles from people suspected of committing certain crimes. Cars not recovered within thirty days are declared the property of St. Louis Metropolitan Towing, which splits profit from towing fees with the city, which in turn generates millions in revenue for the city. The police were given cars that had been impounded for a "test drive" period for months at a time where the car could then be purchased at up to a 75 percent discount. Last week the Police Chief's daughter was caught drunk driving such a car.
Police Chief's daughter
The Police Chief's daughter, Aimie Mokwa, was one of relatives that was granted use of the program. She "rented" a one-year-old Dodge Neon that had been impounded in May 2001. In September 2002 she crashed the Neon after colliding into two parked cars on perfectly dry pavement.
After the accident with the Neon was replaced with a 1999 Ford Escort that she purchased from the tow company for $1100, which had a book value of at least $3750. Mokwa rear-ended another car with the Escort in January 2003. Officers investigating the collision determined she had a blood alcohol level of 0.17, but they did not charge her with drunk driving.
In December 2006, Mokwa bought a 2004 Chevy Malibu from the tow yard for $1500, despite the vehicle having a book value of at least $5850. Last October, she bought a 1999 Dodge Dakota for $850, even though the vehicle was worth at least $5025.[1]
