DENVER -- Denver voters by 70 percent to 30 percent rejected a measure requiring police to impound vehicles of unlicensed drivers.

Critics said the measure would target illegal immigrants and punish drivers who simply forgot their wallets at home. City officials said it would tie up too much police time.

This is the second time Denver voters have tackled the issue.

Voters originally approved a similar measure in 2008. But city attorneys, ruling that the ordinance was vague, said police retained discretion to decide when to tow cars.

So this time around, supporters removed police discretion from the ballot measure. They argued that unlicensed drivers often don't have insurance, posing a threat to law-abiding motorists.

Coloradans for Safe Communities, the group against the initiative, cited a strong coalition and the broad impact to all drivers as the motivating factors for the election turnout.

"We are thrilled by the outcome of this election. We built a strong coalition of educators, faith leaders, elected officials, businesses, labor groups and community-based organizations that opposed Initiative 300," said Carolyn Siegel, campaign manager for Coloradans for Safe Communities.

"Voters have clearly declared that this is a terrible idea," said Jessie Ulibarri, state director for Mi Familia Vota. "The people of Denver made the right decision on this issue when they heard the truth about the ordinance."