CHICAGO (STMW) — A Cadillac Escalade belonging to Ald. Carrie M. Austin (34th) was impounded after her grandson, who was driving it, was pulled over and cited for driving without a license early Monday in the Far South Side Roseland neighborhood, according to police.
About 2 a.m. on Monday, Kenneth Austin, 21, was driving an Escalade belonging to the alderman when he was pulled over by Targeted Response Unit officers near 113th Street and Normal Avenue, according to police. The TRU officers were already in the area performing an investigation.
Officers found Kenneth Austin did not have a valid driver’s license and he was issued a citation, according to police, who said he is the alderman’s grandson.
The Escalade, which had tinted windows, was taken to the city auto pound at 103rd Street and Doty Avenue, according to police.
Kenneth Austin was not arrested but was issued a personal recognizance, or I-bond, which is standard procedure if a motorist doesn’t have a license, police said.
Austin, of 500 W. 111th St., has been without driving privileges since April 9, 2009 when he failed to appear in court for an unidentified reason, said Illinois Secretary of State’s office spokeswoman Beth Kaufman.
Austin also had a “financial responsibility suspension,” which occurred six days ago on March 10, she said. “He needed to file high risk insurance with our office and either he didn’t do it, or it lapsed,” Kaufman said.
According to a source, the Escalade is registered to the alderman’s chief of staff.
The alderman was not immediately available to comment as of 9:45 a.m. Tuesday.
Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.
