LAKEWOOD – A complaint by a citizen watchdog group forced supporters of a citizen-initiated effort requiring police to impound vehicles operated by unlicensed drivers to register with the city as a political issue group.

Colorado Ethics Watch, which filed the complaint with the Colorado Secretary of State Aug. 25, says the Lakewood Safe Streets Committee has registered as an issue committee and filed the required financial disclosure forms.

Safe Streets organized petition drives to get the impound initiative on the Nov. 3 ballot in Lakewood, Denver and Aurora.

“It is disappointing that it takes a legal complaint to get this issue determined, but we are pleased that within days of Ethics Watch filing a complaint, the Lakewood Safe Streets Committee recognized their duty to register … finally providing transparency to the citizens of Lakewood,” said Luis Toro, senior counsel at Colorado Ethics Watch.