Los Angeles, September 23, 2013 – Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Terry Green today overruled the City of Los Angeles’s objections to the Los Angeles Police Protective League’s (LAPPL) proposed judgment in the case regarding LAPD’s controversial Special Order 7. In addition, the court agreed with the League’s attorney, Richard Levine, that the court should also deny the ACLU’s request for stay of the judgment pending appeal.

In April 2012, the LAPPL filed a lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles and the Chief of Police, seeking a judicial determination as to whether Special Order No. 7 issued by the Office of the Chief of Police respecting Vehicle Impound Procedures is preempted by state law and would subject League-represented officers to professional and legal conflict, as well as civil liabilities, resulting from implementation of the Special Order. Judge Green concluded that Special Order No. 7 was preempted by the Vehicle Code and would frustrate the state legislative objective of uniform impoundment regulations.

“We are pleased with the ruling today,” said Tyler Izen, President of the Los Angeles Police Protective League. “LAPD officers were caught in the middle of a legal controversy over whether they were vested with the authority to impound vehicles driven by unlicensed drivers as required by the State Vehicle Code, or follow LAPD Special Order No. 7 that was preempted by uniform enforcement of the statewide impound regulations. The decision to litigate was not taken lightly, and it was not a position on immigration policy or the status of undocumented immigrants in this country. The LAPPL felt strongly that it was unreasonable and unacceptable to place our membership in this position, and that public safety suffered because of this Special Order.”

Contact: Paul Haney (626) 755-4759 or Eric Rose (805) 624-0572.