IDs for illegals

Vail Daily Online ^ | February 21, 2002 | Veronica Whitney

[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.

[Joe Hadenuf]

You and I seem to be the only ones on this forum who were disturbed by Bush's comments this evening. I was absolutely appalled.

I didn't see or hear it. But I don't need him to tell me we are a nation of laws. President Bush ought to back up his words once in while.

[WRhine]

Maybe these sheriffs need to find a new line of work. Several states no longer recognize drivers licenses from Tennessee because who knows who the person on the license really is.

It is scary that we have law enforcement officers like this. I think they are trained nowadays to only apply the law to citizens and just pretend that the illegals are not there.

[PRND21]

President Bush ought to back up his words once in while.

Spoken like a true Patsie.
The sour grapes boo-hooing is getting a tad old.

[Victoria Delsoul]

"If somebody is here illegally, we should start giving them some kind of documents.”

Umm... Search warrant? Extradition papers?

Republican Party voter registration?

Republican Party voter registration? Perhaps you meant to say Democratic Party voter registration, since it was a Democrat who sponsored a recent bill to facilitate undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses in Colorado. That bill was defeated, thanks to the Republicans. Further, a Republican-sponsored measure was passed last week, which cracks down on issuing driver's licenses to illegals. The new Bill -- passed by a Republican Senator -- requires applicants to prove they're in the United States legally before they can obtain driver's licenses.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Spoken like a true Patsie. The sour grapes boo-hooing is getting a tad old.

Well our commander in chief states today that we are a nation of laws, yet we are being over run by millions upon millions of criminal illegal aliens that have no regard for our laws or our national sovereignty.

Given the facts here, your "sour grapes and boo-hooing" remark, appears pretty juvenile.

Whats really getting a "tad old" here, is some folks that claim to be patriotic conservatives, yet attempt to minimize and down play, or just out right ignore this titanic invasion of millions. You and people like you are the ones that are getting "old".

[Brownie74]

Umm... Search warrant? Extradition papers?

How about a mug shot and a booking number? They work wonders on NCIC.

[Native American Female Vet]

BUMP

[Sabertooth]

Republican Party voter registration? Perhaps you meant to say Democratic Party voter registration, since it was a Democrat who sponsored a recent bill to facilitate undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses in Colorado. That bill was defeated, thanks to the Republicans.

Ahh... but then I would have said Democratic Socialist Party.

I agree that the GOP stalwarts are the only ones holding the line at all against illegals. My comment was pointed more toward the DIABLA Repubs who are selling the soul of the party on illegal immigration in vain pursuit of "Latino outreach."

[Grampa Dave]

ST posted, "Republican Party voter registration?"

Of course any illegal alien is warned that if they register as a Repubie, they will be gang beat by the PC cops. Then, they and their family will be dragged back to Mexico behind the biggest SUV in the sheriff's auto/truck fleet!

Then they are warned that if they ever vote Repubie, stronger measures will erase the vote and voter!

[Lion's Cub]

At a recent meeting by a state sheriffs’ association, Johnson says, about 50 sheriffs showed support for Tupa’s bill.

I saw some idiot LEO puting forth this position on TV the other day. Seems some of them are being put in the forefront to push for this.

[angkor]

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.

I agree things would be so much better if illegal aliens could drive drunk with a Colorado driver's license and insurance.

But doesn't Colorado DWI call for mandatory license revocation?