I've ridden in "cattle cars". In 1962, my dad was stationed at Gitmo. We dependants were delivered to the docks in them, when we were evacuated on one of their "cruise ships", the USNS Upshur.
Posted on 03/04/2006 5:45:12 AM PST by devane617
TAMPA - Florida law bars undocumented immigrants from obtaining driver's licenses, but in countless cases that doesn't keep them off the road.
Arrests of unlicensed drivers by Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies rose 71 percent from 2001 to 2005. The agency doesn't track how many of those drivers were undocumented, but anecdotal evidence suggests those numbers are rising as more immigrants arrive.
A high-profile accident is drawing attention to the issue: A Tampa police detective died in a crash Feb. 25 when one such driver ran a red light and plowed into the detective's city-owned car, the sheriff's office has said. The man ran from the scene but was apprehended shortly thereafter.
Some say changing the law would decrease hit-and-run accidents, require undocumented immigrants to learn the rules of the road and allow them to insure their cars. The other side says it's illogical to give those in the country illegally the right to drive.
As they debate, the arrests keep coming. On Wednesday, four days after the fatal crash, Hillsborough deputies arrested 23 unlicensed drivers - farm pickers, laborers and construction workers - who listed their birthplaces in Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. They were arrested in Dover, Plant City and Seffner.
Arrest records don't state whether the drivers are citizens, but arrest locations and occupations offer clues.
"Obviously, there are instances of undocumented [workers] not having licenses," sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway said. "It's hard to gauge. Patrols in eastern Hillsborough have had a problem."
On Feb. 25, the sheriff's office says, Jose Espinosa ran a red light at Interstate 75 and Gibsonton Road and crashed into a car driven by Juan Serrano, a Tampa police detective and Mayor Pam Iorio's driver.
Espinosa, who has a Mexican driver's license, was charged with DUI-manslaughter and vehicular homicide. Records show his blood alcohol level was 0.164 percent - more than twice the level at which Florida law presumes a person is intoxicated.
Out of necessity, Espinosa drove from Gibsonton to construction jobs, his sister-in-law said. He shared a trailer with five other men. At the time of the accident, he was driving back to the trailer after helping a friend with a flat tire.
Statewide, there are an estimated 700,000 undocumented immigrants of driving age.
Nationally, an estimated 2 million unlicensed and uninsured drivers take to the road because of immigration restrictions, according to Hinda Seif, a visiting assistant professor teaching labor studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
"It's a symptom of inaction," said Seif, who tracked the license issue as a University of California-San Diego researcher.
"The purpose of a driver's license is to ensure highway safety," Seif said. "If that's the case, how can we do our best? Some state laws are interfering with that."
Legislation supported by Gov. Jeb Bush last year would have allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses. It died in committee. A similar bill died in 2003.
State Sen. Jim Sebesta, a St. Petersburg Republican and chairman of the transportation committee, said no such bills are proposed for the session beginning Tuesday.
"We have to wait and see what happens," he said. "There are good arguments, merits made for both sides of the issue.
"Do you allow lawbreakers legal licenses on one side, and on the other side, if you do allow them a driver's license, they can buy car insurance."
Meanwhile, the problem continues.
"I know that there are people driving without insurance and license," said Javier Izaguirre, operations manager at Beth-El Mission, which helps the farmworker population in Wimauma. "It goes on, and there are different scenarios. People have to go to work, and they try to find a way."
SHERIFF'S OFFICE ARRESTS The number of unlicensed drivers arrested by Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies steadily has increased:
Year Arrests
2001 2,623
2002 3,402
2003 3,916
2004 4,462
2005 4,478
ping
We were involved in a 7 car accident caused by illegals in a huge van. Will never forget the feeling of being hit from every side, and our car was brand new than. Miraculously we weren't hurt, and lo and behold they didn't have insurance.
Colorado is right by trying to pass a bill to prevent the invaders from getting any public assistance in any way.
Let them eat mangos!
http://www.somosunpueblo.com/March%2030/English.htm
100,000 pro-illegal alien supporters to shut down the city of Chicago, in Protest of the Illinois Minuteman Project and in protest of "THE RACIST" proposal HR 4437
" The city will be paralyzed (with the march) and our voice is going to go up to Washington ", mentioned Radio Host El Pistolero "The Gunman."
Que Bueno 105.1FM
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=267709
If our government had any stones, they would have 18 wheelers there waiting to round them all up and get em outta here.
Looks like he helped his friend drink a "few" beers as well...to me, it's more of a drunk driver issue than an illegal immigrant issue. If he had been sober, this terrible tragedy would not have happened.
This incident happened just a few miles from my home. My wife and I drive by that spot all the time (it's where we get on I-75 Southbound). There is a memorial cross with lots of flowers at the intersection now. Now I get to be reminded of it every time I get on the highway. Thanks, Mr. Espinosa...bastard...
Come to think of it I'm sure you could get a bunch of truckers to do it free of charge. I don't think using trucks is a bad thing. I am sure driving in a semi is alot more comfortable than under the seat or in the trunk of a car.
Get 'em out of the country...problem solved.
He's only giving it to the "new Americans".
| We are now one of the largest Spanish-speaking nations in the world. We're a major source of Latin music, journalism and culture. Just go to Miami, or San Antonio, Los Angeles, Chicago or West New York, New Jersey ... and close your eyes and listen. You could just as easily be in Santo Domingo or Santiago, or San Miguel de Allende. For years our nation has debated this change -- some have praised it and others have resented it. By nominating me, my party has made a choice to welcome the new America. As I speak, we are celebrating the success of democracy in Mexico. George Bush from a campaign speech in Miami, August 2000. |
Here is an excerpt of a good critique of that speech:
In equating our intimate historic bonds to our mother country and to Canada with our ties to Mexico, W. shows a staggering ignorance of the civilizational facts of life. The reason we are so close to Britain and Canada is that we share with them a common historical culture, language, literature, and legal system, as well as similar standards of behavior, expectations of public officials, and so on. My Bush Epiphany By Lawrence Auster
Gee, for a moment I thought I was on DU.
Go away BushBot.
# 5. Name Calling: This is officially the oldest trick in the book. It is cheap and easy. Often immigration reform activists are called anti-immigrant, people who are against state sponsored racism are called "racists" themselves. Name calling clouds and confuses issues, and when repeated by enough people on one side of an issue, creates a weight of its own, which isn't really there, but must now be explained before the victim "may" have an opinion regarding the issue in question.
Example: By saying that the population is growing too quickly, many people assumed she was a racist.
Gee, I have never been called any name on FR yet, thanks, for the first.
I am NOT in favor of current border "policy" - I agree with you. Just trying to follow your logic: tying in drunk driving with illegal immigrants and jobs overseas and blaming it all on Bush.
It seems to me that the cause of most fatalities is alcohol related - not illegal immigrants. Something like 16,000 or 17,000 people a year get killed by drunk drivers - majority driving with 'legal' licenses. That is my point.
FRegards,
I've ridden in "cattle cars". In 1962, my dad was stationed at Gitmo. We dependants were delivered to the docks in them, when we were evacuated on one of their "cruise ships", the USNS Upshur.
MY point is ALL illegals should be deported now! You are only mudding the water talking about DUI. The article is about a illegal with no drivers license killing a Tampa police officer. He was an "illegal" with "no drivers license", before he was "drunk". Now, go away!
Sadly, I agree with your post #9
"MY point is ALL illegals should be deported now!"
I support that 100%
BTTT
I have had those sentiments quite strongly myself.
If the American people had any stones, they would have 18 wheelers waiting at the white house and capitol hill waiting to round them (politicians) all up and hauling their collective a**es out of office............traitors all!!!
I totally agree with you. Although I would probably let Tancredo hang around. Most of the people at the capitol hate him so he's doing something right.
Yes, I read that post. Upsetting to say the least.
" [all] later released after the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Department refused to deal with them."
ping
Pam and my wife are acquaintances. This just devastated Pam, she was heartbroken. Not only was he her bodyguard and driver, he was her friend and confidant.
Pity she is a Democrat and dines with $cientology cult representatives like Tom Cruise.
Rules,laws and auto insurance are only for us stupid gringos.
What can Bush do? how about congress what are they doing see how it works.
That'll really raise you blood alcohol level. Where is MADD demanding that you shouldn't drive after fixing a flat?
They've been depending on our want-to-believe for quite some time; I wonder if they are prepared for the blowback from their betrayal.
For starters, he can direct federal agencies to enforce the law.
You have no evidence that alcohol was the cause of the accident. The cause was reckless driving which is caused by many factors, including a lack of a sense of responsibility.
Of course coming illegally, haveing no license and having no insurance are also evidence of a lack of repsonsibility.
Most of todays illegals are opportunists, not responsible people coming to America legally to become good citizens.
I live in Arizona and have watched the problem for over fifty years.
We need Mexico fixed, border enforcement and deportation and start over.
Oh, I agree with you on the border problem. We should put the military down there and shoot anyone that tries to sneak across. Maybe some UAVs and land mines, too, for good measure. We need to DEFEND OUR COUNTRY!
However, regarding your statement about me having no evidence that alcohol was the cause of the accident, Florida state law disagrees with you. The defendant, Mr. Espinosa, was operating a motor vehicle on the public highways of Florida and had a BAC more than twice the limit of .08. That is prima facie evidence of DUI in Florida, as it probably is in every other state in the US. That fact ALONE makes Mr. Espinosa fully culpable in the accident.
I wish a new president were in the White House.
To anyone who feels this way.... What difference do any of you think it would make? This situation has been going on for years, way before Bush came into office and now you want to blame someone? We have no one to blame but, ourselves!
ZERO IMMERGRATION FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.
Well said Starbase. The President's failure on immigration will have a huge effect on Republicans, and conservatives in general, in the future. I have been "post-Bush" for the past year or so, and until I see the congress make significant changes, I will NOT be voting for a Republican.
Bush is to blame for drunk driving now, too? Maybe Ms Kopechne's family could file a wrongful death suit against him to collect for some of their pain and suffering.
I think that's a great idea. The democrats have such a better track record on immigration. If they raise our taxes enough, the illegals won't want to come here anymore and then we'll have all those jobs available that the illegals are always taking. Thanks.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.