Truckers must talk English [Laredo, Texas]

LAREDO MORNING TIMES ^ | 08/26/2007 | MIGUEL TIMOSHENKOV and VICENTE RANGEL

[SwinneySwitch]

"The law requiring that Mexican truckers coming into the United States speak English has been on the books for years,..."

[mrsmel]

"Whether the Mexican government has or has not informed the drivers about this law, well, thats something we cant answer for them," she said.

"The Mexican government lodged a protest, saying that the US broke the law first by enforcing the law" /s

[SwinneySwitch]

Ping!

If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.

[acoulterfan]

But who is going to catch the ones going from the border zone to the interior of the U.S. ??

[PeteB570]

Could be that when they are stopped for speeding or other infractions they will be able to converse with the LEO.

Not just “No hablo”

[Squantos]

They better learn to change all 18 tires on their rigs as well......american truckers , independet or union idiots won’t put up with this crap.

[acoulterfan]

When is this actually going to start full force? I am going to have to stock up on Popcorn!!!

[Clara Lou]

I have a message for Mr. Trevino: We in Texas expect all Spanish-speaking only kids to come here and learn the language [be able to read, listen to, write, and speak it] within 3 years. Surely your adult drivers can handle it well enough after one year. Sign ‘em up for English courses.

[ken21]

hey! wake up.

on socal freeways an auto can be doing 90 in the 65 mph,

and who does the chp stop?

not the auto, but the semis.

the chp rides herd on trucks, so stop your bitching.

[SwinneySwitch]

Texas has a second line of interior checkpoints.

[RckyRaCoCo]

[Squantos]

Dunno.......not a trucker. But I did stay at a holiday inn once.

[Sherman Logan]

It also will allow up to 100 U.S. carriers to go deep into Mexico with their loads.

So will these drivers be required to habla Espanol?

[acoulterfan]

not the auto, but the semis.

You are so right, no CHP (CA) Officer would want’t stop a car for speeding because they are simply putting their lives at stake. You can’t go 1 mile on the freeway without seeing several Mexican License plates! Our two left lanes you stay out of UNLESS you are going 90!

[VOA]

“Truckers must talk English [Laredo, Texas]”

IF enforced...
another Triumph of The Anglosphere.

Just as English replaced French as the common language for international
airports after WWII.
(despite pre-WWII plans to make French the common aviation language)

[Squantos]

x

[fight_truth_decay]

Truck drivers would need to speak English
By CHRIS BLANK
Associated Press Writer

Commercial truck drivers would be required to communicate in English and take their certification tests without the help of translators under a measure gaining first-round approval in the House on Wednesday.

Commercial drivers also would need to show they can read highway signs, fill out forms and respond to official inquiries, such as about what they are hauling.

Sponsor Rep. Neal St. Onge said it becomes a safety issue when a truck driver cannot read road signs and written information about construction and traffic conditions.

“Commercial drivers are driving down the road in an 80,000-pound rocket full of gasoline,” said St. Onge, R-Ellisville.

But critics said there is no evidence to suggest that drivers who cannot speak English are less safe than those who can.

Rep. John Burnett, D-Kansas City, said the requirement would open the door to discrimination by license testers who could deny licenses by claiming an applicant is not fluent enough in English.

Currently, people can take the written commercial license test in English or Spanish by computer. During the driving part of the test, evaluators can gesture to explain instructions.

The House already has endorsed measures to require English be spoken in official proceedings, bar illegal immigrants from state colleges and universities and require police to ask about the immigration and citizenship status of anyone they arrest.

Rep. Tim Flook said that unlike other “symbolic” measures, the driver’s license restrictions are “something that actually protects people.”

Flook, R-Liberty, has opposed much of the previous legislation.

The bill was endorsed by voice vote, but both Republicans and Democrats said during floor debate they supported the driving restrictions.

Rep. Tim Meadows, a former truck driver, said the licensing of drivers is an important safety check. He said communication and language skills are important.

“These things aren’t toys. And if you’re on the road with one of these things and you get hit or your family gets hit, then (there is) the possibility of not being able to communicate with one of the drivers of one of these things when you need to,” said Meadows, D-Imperial.

The bill requires another vote before moving to the Senate.

—http://newstribune.com/articles/2007/03/29/news_state/277state32truckers.txt

Commercial license bill is HB245
http://www.senate.mo.gov/07info/bts_web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=216333
On the Net:

Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov

[mc5cents]

Seems fair to me. Airline pilots have to speak English. Why not truck drivers? :-)

(Not equating flying a plane with driving a truck.)

[ozzymandus]

Last time I turned on a CB radio, 90% of the chatter was Spanish.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I'll see your x and raise you one.