Posted on 02/21/2002 2:43:56 PM PST by usadave
When Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder, sponsored Senate Bill 67, which would allow undocumented immigrants to get a driver license in Colorado, his goal was to increase road and public safety and to strengthen law enforcement, he says.
Despite the bill being killed last week in a state senate committee, Eagle County Sheriff A. J. Johnson agree with Tupa. “We need to deal with this issue,” he says. “If these people are here illegally, we should do something about it, give them some kind of permit that allows them to get a drivers license, get insurance and use their real names. Many are not criminal, but our system somewhat pushes them to be criminals.”
In spite of the sheriffs from Boulder, El Paso, Adams, Summit and Pitkin counties testifying they were in favor of Tupa’s bill, the Senate’s Government, Veterans and Military Relations and Transportation Committee last week killed SB 67 on a 4-3 vote.
“It’s a hypocritical situation in a lot of ways,” Johnson says. “Some legislators say (undocumented immigrants) shouldn’t be allowed because they’re illegal. But, on the other hand, they don’t do anything about them being illegal.”
Senate Bill 67 would have allowed undocumented immigrants to get a Colorado drivers license or a identification card by presenting an individual taxpayer identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service.
“The vote was disappointing, but it wasn’t unexpected taking into account reactions after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks,” Tupa says. “It was difficult for the voters to separate the immigration issue from the public safety and law enforcement one. A lot of the supporters for my bill spoke about human rights. I tried to highlight the road safety.”
At a recent meeting by a state sheriffs’ association, Johnson says, about 50 sheriffs showed support for Tupa’s bill.
“We all agreed that this bill was in the best interest of our communities,” he says. “We stop a lot of illegals in Eagle County — because there are a lot of illegals here — so we need to find a solution. If somebody is here illegally, we should start giving them some kind of documents.”
In Eagle County, Johnson says, sheriffs’ deputies pick up several undocumented immigrants for driving while intoxicated who don’t have insurance or a driver license on a weekly basis.
“This compounds their cases and raises their bonds,” Johnson says. “So a lot of them stay in jail.”
Having a driver license with a name and a photo also will make police work safer, he adds.
“There are a lot of people in the valley who drive without licenses and their illegal status prevents them from getting one,” says Rene Martinez of the Hispanic group La Mesa. “This also has an impact on the economy, because a lot of them have jobs and need to commute.”
Some insurance companies will insure foreigners as long as they have a valid driver’s license issued in their country, says James McGalliard, insurance agent with Alpine Insurance in Edwards. The cost, however, is higher.
“We knew it was going o be a tough battle,” Martinez says. “But we will continue to work with the Mexican consulate in Denver to push the issue in the Legislature.”
Tupa, meanwhile, says he’s not giving up on the issue and will keep working with law enforcement.
“The issue is still an important one and we’ll have to find a solution in the future,” he says.
Another bill, Senate Bill 112, which aims in the opposite directions, passed on Feb. 14 on a 5-2 vote. Sponsored by Sen. Ron Teck, R-Grand Junction, would tighten the existing law for issuing IDs and drivers licenses by requiring applicants to show further proof that they’re in the United States legally.
Teck’s argument is that Utah, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee allow people to receive driver’s license without proof they’re legally in the country, and those moving to this state can trade their licenses for Colorado licenses.
“We all agreed that this bill was in the best interest of our communities,” he (Johnson) says. “We stop a lot of illegals in Eagle County — because there are a lot of illegals here — so we need to find a solution. If somebody is here illegally, we should start giving them some kind of documents.”
I can't believe this guy A.J. Johnson actually holds a position as important as County Sheriff. He seems to be a true illegal immigrant hugger along with being a nutcase. I sure feel sorry for the law abiding citizens living in Eagle County, Colorado.
Tupa is a brown terrorist like the brown terrorists of La Raza. He will do anything to weaken this nation in the name of diversity! Actually I see no differences in the Tupas and the Arafattys!
Joe and Saber more law breaking for the illegal aliens, fyi!
Well, Sheriff, you're a law enforcement officer aren't you? Why don't you arrest them and turn them over to the INS for deportation?
I blame the auto insurance companies for allowing this to evolve and not say hell no.!
If every auto insurance company said that as of 1 March they would not insure any car, truck registered in or driving though states/counties that allow illegal aliens to drive by 1 March.
We would see a massive change in every state to avoid a massive stoppage of legal drivers in these states and counties which allow illegal aliens to get licenses. In two to three days, any state or county kissing the clymers of the illegal aliens would be close to bankruptcy with the good citizens walking the streets with pitchforks looking for liberal politicians who lust after illegal aliens! Since we couldn't drive any more to work, shop or for recreation, we take up the pitchforks and change things!
In a week, this non sense would be over with!
And whose fault is that, pray tell? We've tried sending them back, cutting benefits, etc., but the will of the people only gets squelched by activist judges and their rulings.
This is a slap in the face to natural-born Americans and those who became Americans the legal way.
B.S. He wants more votes via Motor Voter, and he doesn't care how he gets them, either.
I don't believe this jackass of a sheriff actually said this. I guess doing his job is too much for him.
This sounds promising... I wonder what he has in mind?
If somebody is here illegally, we should start giving them some kind of documents.”
Umm... Search warrant? Extradition papers?
Republican Party voter registration?
Winning lottery ticket?
Subscription to Playboy?
Invitation to the White House?
By George I think you are on to something!
Wanna move to California without changing your address?
Pinging every Freeper in CO.
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