Highway safety director apologizes for chiding Hispanics

Star-Ledger ^ | Friday, December 15, 2006 | RICK HEPP, Brian Donohue contributed to report.

[Liz]

The head of the state Highway Traffic Safety Division apologized yesterday for telling a Spanish-language newspaper Hispanic immigrants need to remember they can't drive drunk and then bribe police to avoid arrest like they did in their old countries. "They ought to remember that now they are not in Latin America where if there is a problem due to driving drunk one pays the police so they 'will look the other way,'" Roberto Rodriguez is quoted as saying in the biweekly newspaper Reporte Hispano. "Hispanics should accustom themselves to the culture of the USA, its norms and its rules. Here, if you drive drunk they will catch you and put you in jail." He also told the newspaper: "In the Latino community people don't drink to feel happy, but to get drunk. This is not a problem, if it weren't for the fact that many drive drunk."

The comments, which have drawn criticism from some Latinos, appeared in the Nov. 22 edition of the newspaper as part of a story on the increasing number of drunken-driving arrests among Hispanics in New Jersey. The story cited statistics provided by Rodriguez that show drivers of Hispanic origin made up 16.5 percent of those arrested for driving drunk in 2004 compared with 13.5 percent of those arrested in 1997. Rodriguez sent a letter to the newspaper yesterday apologizing for his comments, although he noted the statistics remain "deeply troubling" to him.

Rodriguez -- who earns $112,801, according to public records -- is set to retire Dec. 31 after more than 23 years in state government. Wald said the retirement was set prior to the dust-up over his comments and was not related to his comments.

[MBB1984]

Why should he apologize? That is the truth in Central American countries.

[AnAmericanMother]

I don't see any need for an apology - he's simply telling the truth.

My dad used to carry a roll of bribe money when we travelled in Mexico. He didn't like it, but if you wanted to avoid trouble it was the only way to do business.

[Liz]

They are the New Exalted Hyphenates---a "protected class."

Even telling the truth is considered a "hate crime."

Notice that they and only they dictate the terms of their victimization.

If you say "and" instead of "but", or look at them crosseyed, they'll rise up and invoke their "rights."

That means you are toast.....a "racist pariah."

These people are a timebomb in our culture---you never know what's going to set them off.

[Just mythoughts]

These people are a timebomb in our culture---you never know what's going to set them off.

I think the match and the fuse was elected last month.

[ELS]

They don't even want to hear the truth from one of their own - Roberto Rodriguez. God help us!

[Liz]

Heh-----good catch. Nice zinger.

[Red in Philly]

This kind of bull is why I am Conservative. I am Hispanic and I do not see anything wrong in what this guy said. It is true police gets bribed in Latin America to get out of stuff like this and if you come to the US you should not expect that being the case. In the US police gets bribed for bigger far more lucrative stuff. DUI money is petty cash

[DumpsterDiver]

Although this article uses the terms Mexican Americans, Latinos and Hispanics, I am assuming that the undocumented drinkers from south of the border are included in with those groups.

MADD unites with Hispanic, African American and Native American leaders to create solutions to reduce alcohol-related incidents within their communities
May 17, 2006

Ethnic-specific statistics among African American, Hispanic and Native American populations include:

• Native Americans have the highest rate of alcohol-related fatalities at 73.2 percent
• Mexican Americans ranked second at 59.7 percent
• African Americans ranked third at 47.1 percent respectively. (Voas et al, 2000)

Latino men consume more alcohol than Caucasian and African American men. (Caetano and Kaskutas, 1995)

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for Hispanics ages 1-44, and the third leading cause of death for all ages [of Hispanics]. (CDC, 2000)

[Elsie]

The comments, which have drawn criticism from some Latinos...

SOME Latinos would bitch if Mary showed up at Guadulupe again!

[Liz]

Thanks---nice contribution to the thread.