Opponents of a ballot initiative that would require the mandatory impoundment of cars driven by unlicensed drivers are hopeful that voters have become so disenfranchised by a similar law that they won’t back it a second time around.

Daniel Hayes, an unincorporated Jefferson County resident, has introduced Initiative 300, asking Denver voters to put “teeth” into a similar law that voters backed last year. The law requires police officers to impound the cars of unlicensed drivers. But Hayes said officers have been using their discretion and not impounding enough of the cars.

“The other one was meaningless,” said Hayes of his 2008 law. “It didn’t have the teeth in it to force Denver to enforce it.”

I-300 aims to solve several problems that arose out of the 2008 law. The new ordinance would exempt rental car companies and victims of theft after several citizens complained of having their car towed and needing to pay $2,500 bond to release their car simply for forgetting their license at home.

Hayes had originally said that the law was necessary to curb undocumented residents driving around the city without a license or insurance. But he has since changed his tune, arguing that the law is a necessary public safety tool.

“Some of these people that drive without a license are American citizens, it’s just despicable,” Hayes told the Denver Daily Newsyesterday. “They’ve caused some horrible accidents, some of the worst I’ve heard of. So, we need to get them both off the road.”

Opponents yesterday said that whether the issue is about immigration or not, the original law is already draining the city of precious resources. They argue that an even tougher law that takes away an officer’s ability to use discretion would further drain those resources.

“It does nothing to address the safety concerns of residents in the City and County of Denver,” Councilman Paul Lopez said yesterday at a news conference hosted by Coloradans for Safe Communities, a grassroots coalition opposing the ballot question. “Instead of responding to important and priority calls in our city, this is a mandate for (police) to sit and have to babysit this car and wait for a tow truck to come. That’s time out of the community.”

Councilman Doug Linkhart, who has been leading the charge against Hayes’ measures since last year, said he was recently at the city’s impound lot where he saw an overflow of vehicles because of the law. He said officers have been instructed to use discretion in impounding the vehicles because the city doesn’t have any more room to store the vehicles.

“It’s punishing cars for drivers not having licenses,” said Linkhart.

Hayes, however, contends that the city would actually save money in the long run by reducing court costs and lowering insurance rates down the road.

But citizens are crying out about seniors losing their cars because they forgot their wallet at home; college students not being able to bail their car out of the impound lot; and officers being deprived of their ability to use discretion.

Critics have the support of numerous community groups, several state lawmakers and the majority of City Council, which is expected to again back a proclamation opposing Hayes’ measure.

“This is an initiative that is very poorly written, it is very clumsy — it’s irresponsible,” said Lopez.