Full Notification

On Saturday, 9-2-17, Sebastopol Police Sergeant David Ginn made a traffic stop on a vehicle that was traveling at 38 miles per hour in a downtown 25 mile per hour zone. Upon contacting the driver, the Sergeant learned that the driver’s license was suspended, an arrestable offense. Per Sebastopol Police Department procedures and California state law, this meant that the vehicle should have been impounded for 30 days.

Upon seeing that the driver’s two children, ages 4 and 11, were inside the vehicle and on their way to go camping, he decided to have a conversation with the driver outside the vehicle. The Sergeant admonished the driver on the seriousness of the situation and potential consequences. To prevent the children’s memories of going camping from including the impoundment of the family vehicle by police, Sergeant Ginn declined to tow the car. Instead, the driver was allowed to arrange for another ride.

While waiting for the other ride to arrive, Sergeant Ginn gave the children a gift card to a local ice cream shop and Police Technician Beckman brought the children popsicles. The driver was released with a citation and must appear in court at a later date.