SAUNDERS: No license, behind the wheel

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 8/10/6 | Debra J. Saunders

[SmithL]

THE STATE Senate already has voted 25 to 14 to create a special exemption in state law that would reduce the mandatory 30-day impoundment of cars driven by unlicensed drivers, so that offenders who have never had a valid license can get their cars back after 24 hours. Right now, when officers impound the cars of unlicensed drivers, the mandatory term is 30 days. A new law would keep the 30 days for drivers whose bad driving led to the forfeiture or suspension of their license -- may the courts add whatever punishment they so choose -- but create a loophole to give unlicensed illegal immigrants their cars back overnight. Expect the California Assembly to approve SB626 as early as today.

Break federal immigration law, then break California law by driving without a license, and Sacramento wants you to get your car back the next day so that you can continue driving without a license -- and probably without insurance, because you need a license to qualify for it. It's almost as if the Legislature is telling illegal immigrants that the state expects them to drive without a license.

This measure makes no sense. As GOP state Sen. Chuck Poochigian of Fresno, a candidate for state attorney general who voted against SB626, noted, "If you ever complied with the law and your car is impounded, you will face a tougher penalty than if you never chose to obtain a license."

Why? The office of bill author state Sen. Nell Soto, D-Pomona, sent me a fact sheet to explain that SB626 would make the vehicle code "fairer," as the measure would "end the excessive penalties the code exacts against adults unable to obtain drivers licenses."

[SmithL]

Veto Bait!

[hauerf]

I don't see a vote tally by party. Gut feeling is it was a near party line vote. Democrats are from planet Zilchtwit.

[pikachu]

When ever anyone asks me why I left California, I love to tell them stories like this one.

[VeniVidiVici]

The office of bill author state Sen. Nell Soto, D-Pomona, sent me a fact sheet to explain that SB626 would make the vehicle code "fairer," as the measure would "end the excessive penalties the code exacts against adults unable to obtain drivers licenses."

Barf.

[scuba - doo]

Don't you see the writing on the wall. This is aimed at illegals caught driving in Ca. Their cars get impounded and they don't get them back because they can't pay the storage fees - which is probably more than the cars are worth. This allows them to get their cars back right away so they can continue to drive without a license ad without insurance.

I'm suprised this wasn't introduced by Gil Cerdillo. But then, we couldn't call him one-bill-Gil as we do today for his relentless license for illegals bill he introduces like clockwork.

[6SJ7]

A new law would keep the 30 days for drivers whose bad driving led to the forfeiture or suspension of their license -- may the courts add whatever punishment they so choose -- but create a loophole to give unlicensed illegal immigrants their cars back overnight.

I guess we can throw the equal protection clause into the dumpster.

[AbeKrieger]

end the excessive penalties the code exacts against adults unable to obtain drivers licenses

How about ending the practice of unlicensed drivers - be they American, illegal alien, whatever - from continuing to drive. Not returning the cars until a license and insurance are provided and AUTHENTICATED. Cars are a LUXURY item, so sorry, if you can't pay, you can't play.

[Protagoras]

The person should be targeted and dealt with, not the property.

[calcowgirl]

...SB626 would make the vehicle code "fairer," as the measure would "end the excessive penalties the code exacts against adults unable to obtain drivers licenses."

And which adults would these be?

[calcowgirl]

I don't see a vote tally by party. Gut feeling is it was a near party line vote. Democrats are from planet Zilchtwit.

Straight party line--except for Abel Maldonado (r) who joined his fellow liberals and crossed party lines.

[Bogtrotter52]

"When ever anyone asks me why I left California, I love to tell them stories like this one."

When I lived in SE Alaska (30+ years) I used to joke and tell people I would retire to Needles (it is exact opposite of Juneau weatherwise). Over time I discarded that idea and moved one state to the right..... geographically AND politically. CA is barely part of the US nowadays. I consider its reasonable citizens victims & prisoners.

[BlueDragon]

Abel doesn't want those strawberry pickers to have to walk to work...

I'd rather not have to walk half-way from Guadalupe to Santa Maria, to work bent over double picking berrys all day, either.

Unfortunately, laws such as this one certainly are not long-term solutions, and in the short term, help perpetuate problems as severe as someone not being able to get to work --- like --- having otherwise innocent, and not-at-fault people get involved in vehicular accidents involving an un-licensed, uninsured motorist (who may well be drunk, since it is a FACT that illegal immigrants males, from Mexico presently account for hugely disproportionate numbers of drunk driving arrests, accidents, and drunk-driving fatalities).

Things like the above, result in OTHER folks "not being able to get to work", (and worse) a LOT more than if the laws were truly "blind", and even-handed, applied equally towards all. I'm not being racist here...

But then again, I'd bet you know all this. As usual, I'm posting for lurkers, more than "to" another freeper. I hope you'll understand...

[Uncle Hal]

Arnold had better veto this bill.

[SmithL]

While Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office has no official position on SB626, he did veto a similar bill in 2005, noting that such legislation "would send a message to unlicensed drivers that it is acceptable to break the law."

What would Angelides do?

[RFH]

On the John and Ken show (KFI here in Los Angeles) a few weeks ago they had a guy on from Santa Ana. His neighborhood streets were filled with old (10-15 year old) cars being sold to illegals. These cars usually sell for less than $1000, lack registration, and are intended to be "walk-aways" - in otherwords, if the driver gets into an accident or the car gets impounded or ticketed, the owner would simply walk away as the cost of getting the car out or paying the ticket would exceed the value of the vehicle.

Of course, the LA Times made the guy who complained about the problem out as the villain.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-feud20jun20,0,4485130.story?page=1&coll=la-home-local