S.F. to ease up on unlicensed drivers

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | October 26, 2009 | Phillip Matier,Andrew Ross

[artichokegrower]

Call it sanctuary on wheels: San Francisco is about to give a big break to people, many of them illegal immigrants, who are caught driving without a license.

Beginning Sunday, cops will no longer impound cars the first time drivers are pulled over without a license.

The reason: Many such drivers are in the United States illegally - and thus unable to get a license - and the officials pushing the change think that impounding their cars is an unfair hardship.

[artichokegrower]

To protect and to serve. To protect the illegal aliens and to serve the Latino political lobby. Living in California I have to get a drivers license, I have to register my car, I have to purchase auto liability insurance. What makes me obligated to do all of this? I'm a citizen. Come here illegally and you are free from all of these pesky obligations.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

This will come as a comfort to those who have lost loved ones in auto accidents.

[benjibrowder]

I know San Francisco is liberal, but this stupid? Hey Newsom, wait till people start getting killed and you and the cops are slammed with liability lawsuits.

[Boonie]

WTF is wrong with people???????????????

[2banana]

Prediction - more illegals come to SF, more auto crashes and more auto deaths. It will continue until some politician gets into a crash with an illegal.

[mmichaels1970]

cops will no longer impound cars the first time drivers are pulled over without a license

If they don't have a license, how will they know if it's the "first time"?

[domenad]

If a driver were found to have been unlicensed, and then subsequently hits someone and injures or kills them, could not the state be sued? They are liable (negligent) in enforcing the standards, no?

[TruthBeforeAll]

So I’m guessing proof of insurance is a moot point. What the heck, lets throw out any requirement that they own the vehicle as well.

[goodwithagun]

My husband is a firefighter and his engine was recently hit by an unlicensed driver. The fire engine went through a red light with caution, using sirens and lights. The unlicensed driver had a green light but did not yield to the fire engine, T-boning the engine. Even though the engine driver did everything correctly and was not cited by the police, the unlicensed driver, with the help of the local NAACP, is suing the city for a new car.

[Damifino]

I am usually against govt. registration for most activities but there are a lot of folks who don’t have a driver’s license for good reason. Innocent people will will be killed because of this.

[Hodar]

So, invade my country - no problem
Drive without a license - no problem
Drive without insurance - no problem
Kill US citizens while driving drunk - no problem
Commit crimes against the US population - no problem
Demand In-State tuition to all state collegees - no problem
Do not pay income tax, because you are in illegal - no problem
Use our Emergency Room as your primary healthcare provider - no problem
Absorb all of our social programs (WIC, Welfare, low cost housing, ect) - no problem
Demand that schools learn to speak your language - no problem
Accuse anyone who notices that you are a parasite on our culture, society and goverment and be labeled a racist - no problem

Why does anyone want to be a US Citizen, when you can get all the benefits, and none of the costs by coming her illegally?

[IbJensen]

Gee, why would the rest of San Franciscans have to hold a license? Or insurance for that matter.

Good advice would be to stay out of SF until after the revolution is over.

[PeterPrinciple]

A republic is a nation of laws where everyone is equal under the law. If laws are not respected, there is chaos. Time to buy more ammunition.

[Rapscallion]

the officials pushing the change think that impounding their cars is an unfair hardship.

SF should just invalidate all their laws. Their people do not need protection from bad food, disease, drugged drivers, people here illegally, people using up all the resources taxed workers pay for. Why do they have police at all?

What a ridiculous attitude....but they have what they want in their elected officials.

[TruthBeforeAll]

At some point I think there is going to be a tax revolt in this country.

[P-Marlowe]

I know San Francisco is liberal, but this stupid? Hey Newsom, wait till people start getting killed and you and the cops are slammed with liability lawsuits.

Unlicensed drivers are most likely also to be uninsured and driving unregistered vehicles. Are the police going to be letting these people drive these cars away AFTER they have clear knowledge that the person driving has not been given a driver safety examination, has not proven to the state that they have the minimal skills necessary to operate a vehicle, that they do not have insurance and that they are driving vehicles that have not been registered and probably do not meet minimal safety standards for operation on the highway?

[Menehune56]

[andy58-in-nh]

So, invade my country - no problem
Drive without a license - no problem
Drive without insurance - no problem
Kill US citizens while driving drunk - no problem
Commit crimes against the US population - no problem
Demand In-State tuition to all state colleges - no problem
Do not pay income tax, because you are in illegal - no problem
Use our Emergency Room as your primary health care provider - no problem
Absorb all of our social programs (WIC, Welfare, low cost housing, etc.) - no problem
Demand that schools learn to speak your language - no problem
Accuse anyone who notices that you are a parasite on our culture, society and government and be labeled a racist - no problem

Why does anyone want to be a US Citizen, when you can get all the benefits, and none of the costs by coming here illegally?

Great post.

Why does any American citizen still agree to pay taxes to support this insanity?

[wita]

WTF is wrong with people???????????????

1. They are people.
2. They have choices.
3. They choose poorly.

[jersey117]

This is outrageous. Are there any sane people left in San Francisco to protest this?