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.

[Mike Darancette]

If I were an auto insurance company I would raise rates in the bay area. I’m sure unlicensed = uninsured.

[mkjessup]

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 here illegally?

Good thing the open borders/amnesty crowd weren't able to gain the ear of former President George W. Bush, he closed our borders during a time of war, put troops on the those borders, started rounding up illegals like the Eisenhower Administration did with 'Operation Wetback', and sent them back to their home countries the way the law demands.

Just think, for 8 years America was safe from the illegal hordes who would have murdered, raped, robbed and pillaged REAL Americans, all I can say is 'Thanks President Bush!'

[wita]

there are a lot of folks who don’t have a driver’s license for good reason.

Really?

Explanation in order!

[equalitybeforethelaw]

Not a lawyer, but doesn’t this break the equal protection clause of the constitution? I mean if a citizen is caught without a license while driving, doesn’t he recieve a ticket and points against his license? What penalty does an illegal recieve? Further, if they don’t have a license, do they have car insurance??? How is SFPD protecting and serving the community by letting unlicensed and uninsured drivers to present a real and present danger to citizens? Insurance is required to compensate those you harm, not repair your vehicle.

[Molon Labbie]

This is one the reason illegals keeping flowing into this country. We won’t even enforce our own laws.

So police officers are out of service 20 minutes waiting for someone who has license to show up, (using a phone that the taxpayer pays for), and if they don’t show up, the officer is still out of service dealing with the tow.

When you get a driver’s license you have to pass tests to show knowledge and proficiency. Illegals just skip all that.

Why obey any laws at all?

[hal ogen]

I’ve only read a few posts today so far, but my head is already starting to ache.

[kittymyrib]

Hopefully, the millions of illegals squatting in Texas will migrate to CA where the livin’ is easy.

[Scythian]

No, this is not unfair, US citizens will be ticket, if white, possibly beaten. Non US citizens will be given directions to their local ACORN office so they can register to vote. California Code CAL-9782343CC

[investigateworld]

;^)

[wita]

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

Excellent question.

Needs to be reworded for our elected representatives who eagerly and willingly agree with all the insane points.

[andy58-in-nh]

The Constitution applies only to US citizens. The equal protection clause is not technically being violated because no single individual or class of citizens is being treated differently as a consequence of US immigration policy: instead, we are all being screwed. I guess that's okay with the powers that be.

[kellynla]

One more reason not to live in San Francissyco...

Just don’t get pulled over on the freeway by CHIP’s...
CA needs the vehicles for revenue...BIG SMILE...

[crescen7]

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

It was a bad policy and over reaching law to begin with. Aggressive civil forfeiture has crept into rather minor offenses. It is an affront to private property rights and is rarely justified for anything other than promoting statism.

People driving without a license should be ticketed (ie. accused) and given their opportunity for due process prior to issuing a fine. If they're illegal they should be turned over to ICE.

Confiscation of private property based on technical non-compliance (ie expired license) is tyranny, not liberty.

[artichokegrower]

Just happened here locally

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Aptos woman arrested in fatal hit-and-run on Airport Boulevard

By Alia Wilson
10/25/2009

WATSONVILLE — A 41-year-old Aptos woman was arrested late Friday on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter after she allegedly struck and killed a middle-age woman crossing Airport Boulevard at Pajaro Lane, according to police.

Police said the driver, Oliva Rincon-Tapia, was uninsured and unlicensed.

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_13637766?source=most_viewed

[andy58-in-nh]

I think the proper way to reword it would be:

"To Congress: We, the American people expect you to enforce the law and secure the borders. If you will not act in this manner, as the law requires you to do, we will stop paying our taxes. Then, if you still refuse to act, we will kick your worthless, corrupt asses out and replace you with people who take their oaths of office seriously".

Worth a try?

[investigateworld]

I have to agree with you. (Retired cop here)

The State ordered 'tows' cost 2 to 5 times what Auto Clubs pay their contractors, hence opening the door to corruption.

I had to do termination packages on a number of dirty cops who were taking bribes from the towing companies....

I suspected the officers were failing to share with management :^(

It's a problem in Oregon and Washington too.

[wita]

Police said the driver, Oliva Rincon-Tapia, was uninsured and unlicensed.

But the real question was not even addressed.

[Mac from Cleveland]

Speaking of “undue hardship”, let’s talk about my tax burden for all supporting all this human flotsam and jetsam.

The new U.S. Motto:

W
W
M
D?

(What Would Mugabe Do?)

[farmguy]

Unlicensed American drivers will benefit from this the same as the poor, unfortunate migrant Mexican workers. That makes this just another way for racist Americans to take advantage of a program designed to ease the plight of migrant workers.

To make this more just, it should be changed so that unlicensed drivers should still lose their cars unless they are truly undocumented immigrants.

To make it even more fair, San Francisco should consider just giving a new car to any Mexican they happen to stop for any reason.

/S (in case there was any doubt)

[wita]

Worth a try?

Absolutely!

Security in general, and border security specifically is certainly one of the duties of the Congress. It is most apparent, they are not doing their job while being involved in a great deal that is not on the list of what they have a mandate to do, via the Constitution of the United States. A document they each have taken an oath to support and defend.

Removal from office is step number one, by any legal means. failing that, things are going to get very interesting indeed.