Hispanics blast impounding of vehicles in L.A.

EFE ^ | August 22, 2003 | Rocio Ayuso.

[sarcasm]

Los Angeles, U.S., August 22, 2003 (EFE).- Hispanics in the South L.A. municipality of Maywood are angry at what they say is a discriminatory campaign in which police are stopping Latinos and impounding the vehicles of those without a driver's license.

"We're not talking about agents of law and order but of official corruption, as though this were Latin America," an irate Felipe Aguirre of the Comite Pro Uno, an activist group organizing protests against the practice, told EFE.

In the last 12 months, more than 1,800 vehicles have been impounded from members of the Hispanic community in a town of some 40,000 inhabitants.

Although the underlying reason for the regulation is road safety, the Comite Pro Uno, supported by the nationwide League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, allege the manner of enforcement in Maywood has made it a new form of racial discrimination.

"They're taking it out on the immigrant community," said Aguirre, after pointing out that the number of vehicles impounded in the community exceeded the total for the rest of the state of California.

The cars were impounded after their drivers could not produce a valid license. Latino activists say seizure of the vehicle is a drastic measure.

The vast majority of undocumented immigrants do not have a driver's license, because documentation is required in order to obtain one. The California state legislature is currently debating a bill that would allow many illegal immigrants to get a license.

Maywood is "99.9 percent Hispanic," as attested by the fact that even the council members are Latino, but the traffic cops are "all white," Aguirre said.

The activist alleges, however, that the problem is not only another instance of racial discrimination.

According to Aguirre, the massive impounding of vehicles in the Hispanic community is aimed at fattening the municipal coffers with easy money obtained from the most needy, whose cars are usually worth less than the fines that must be paid to get them back.

Such was the case with Yolanda and Paolo, a Mexican couple who in the last three months have had their Dodge Shadow - which cost $1,000 - impounded twice, and had to pay $656 each time to get it released.

"It's clear we need to resolve the problem of people driving without licenses in California, but to use traffic laws to seize the property of undocumented immigrants is not the solution," said LULAC president Hector Flores.

This situation should be debated in the state legislature, said Aguirre, who expressed hope that amid the turmoil California is presently experiencing the effort to recall Gov. Gray Davis, the embattled incumbent would see fit to authorize the state to issue licenses to illegal immigrants.

[friendly]

"It's clear we need to resolve the problem of people driving without licenses in California, but to use traffic laws to seize the property of undocumented immigrants is not the solution," said LULAC president Hector Flores.

"Undocumented immigrants" = Invasion Force

[Caipirabob]

Wow, this is a GREAT POLICY!

They should do the same with the UNINSURED!

Seriously, think about how many crimes and life-altering accident could be stopped. I would suggest this be implemented as nation-wide policy by the states.

[grania]

"They're taking it out on the immigrant community," said Aguirre, after pointing out that the number of vehicles impounded in the community exceeded the total for the rest of the state of California.

Geesh...there's a community in California where there are that many Latinos who can't get driver's licenses? What a great place for the government to start when (if) we convince politicians to kick illegals out of the US for good.

The cars were impounded after their drivers could not produce a valid license. Latino activists say seizure of the vehicle is a drastic measure.

What is drastic about impounding cars driven by those without licenses? If they don't want these cars impounded, they should impound the people.

Are these people from Mexico, or from outer space? They have absolutely no regard for US laws. They think they should have rights when they are here illegally. Their only "right" should be to a humane form of transportation back to their native lands, paid for by those who knowingly hire them.

WAKE UP AMERICA !!

[goldstategop]

We musn't impound cars belonging to illegal aliens; we must also give them drivers' licenses. Way to go, California!!!

[Cvengr]

I wonder how much it costs when one of these 'undocumented immigrants' happens to get involved in an auto accident and then disappears. I suspect the under $700 cost is marginal compared to the costs the rest of society is forced to pay.

Seems to me that the easiest resolution is for the driver to simply become documented and obtain a driver's license before they drive.

Funny how the rest of us had to get a license before we ever considered driving in public, but this is actually now being rejected rotely.

Watch the issue. Grey Davis is making a push to pass a law that allows undocumented immigrants (referred more colloquially as illegal aliens) to recieve driver's licenses without being citizens in order to swing the elections. The driver's license has already been declared to be the only form of ID requisite to vote in CA.

The Democrats in California are trying to create a new power base from illegal aliens. This effort also allows the socialists to establish home bases for illegal activities south of the border and then pursueing to have their interests empowered in the US without being muzzled by democratic representation of the American public.

They are spoiled with power. When the people are throwing them out of office, they are now seeking to bring in foreigners to maintain their power. Today's Democratic Party is far from being democratic.

[lainde]

And this is a problem WHY? Maybe if we sell the cars we could make a dent in that deficit!

[Glenn]

but to use traffic laws to seize the property of undocumented immigrants is not the solution

They aren't illegal aliens. Merely undocumented immigrants. See? So leave them alone.

[sarcasm]

If they don't want these cars impounded, they should impound the people.

The vehicles should be impounded and the drivers turned over to the INS - or whatever they're calling it these days.

[SauronOfMordor]

And this is a problem WHY? Maybe if we sell the cars we could make a dent in that deficit!

Actually, since the cars in question are mostly old ones that probably spew smoke out their tailpipes, it would make more sense to strip them down for parts and take them off the road entirely.

[SauronOfMordor]

They should do the same with the UNINSURED!

And it would be even easier. Just go down the street with a hand-held pc containing the license #'s of all cars with insurance, and tow all cars that are not on the list.

This would net most of the cars on the street in some neighborhoods, IMHO

[Caipirabob]

In addition, I think about the cost of insurance justified by the fact we are compelled to subsidize the uninsured via our own policies.

Yeah, we probably wouldn't see a discount, but perhaps we might see some relief if there are no further accidents involving the uninsured due the lack of any on the roads.

I can dream, but this all makes too much sense. We may never see it in our lifetimes...

[AppyPappy]

I guess it's too much to ask for people to obey the law.

[Regulator]

They seize the property of Americans who are caught with an ounce of marijuana. We're supposed to feel bad that illegal aliens have their cars impounded?

BTW, in California, this policy has nothing to do with whether you're in the country illegally or not (although it should). It's SOP if they stop you and you don't have a license.

[MarkL]

They're leaving out the important third step...

Step 1) Stop the vehicle, if it's in violation of a code

Step 2) Check for a drivers license. If the driver doesn't have one, impound the vehicle

Step 3) Check the identity of the driver. If the drive is an illegal alien, deport him or her.

Mark

[Marauder]

Their only "right" should be ... transportation back to their native lands, paid for by those who knowingly hire them.

Bulls-eye!

[Kozak]

They should do the same with the UNINSURED!

How much you want to bet that the two groups are 99% congruent? someone who can't be bothered to get a drivers license is NOT going to bother with insurance either. Having lived in California I had a number of friends who had the "pleasure" of being hit by some illegal with no insurance, several watched as the car was abandoned as the other driver took off and fled the scene.

[Kozak]

Are these people from Mexico, or from outer space? They have absolutely no regard for US laws.

Why should THEY have any regard for laws which our own Federal, State and local communities ignore from the moment these invaders enter the US?

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

"We're not talking about agents of law and order but of official corruption,as though this were Latin America," an irate Felipe Aguirre of the Comite Pro Uno.."

Los Angeles IS Latin America, thanks to illegal immigration!

[raybbr]

We're not talking about agents of law and order but of official corruption, as though this were Latin America,"...

He knows what he's talking about. Just look at the way Kalifornia is run.

[silverdog]

re your #12: Along the same lines, in MD we have vehicle emission inspection laws. The inspection costs $14 and your registration gets suspended if you fail the test or don't get the inspection. The kicker is that vehicles over 10yo are exempt "because it's not fair to low income people" to make their cars comply. And of course, which car is emitting more, my 4yo Subaru or his 1982 Fairlane? Sigh.

[novacation]

Nasty white cops are enforcing the law on illegals who break laws constantly.In the country illegaly, no license, no insurance, no driver training,no knowledge of traffic laws,can't read traffic signs.KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK WHITE COPS!

[Verax]

[vetvetdoug]

Last week I was in Fullerton, Garden Grove and Anaheim and saw the police towing vehicles several times. I asked a Sheriffs' deputy why and he told me that they didn't have licenses and were automatically towed. The next three I saw I rolled the window down and laughed at them. Screw the illegal majados.

[Steve0113]

The next three what?

[truthkeeper]

I used to work in Maywood about 25 years ago. It was a sewer then and it's worse now. I believe it's the most high-density residential district in the entire country (17 people per apartment, loads of illegal "granny flats," people living in garages, etc.), and the streets are so jammed with parked cars you can barely drive on them.

I say BRAVO to these cops.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[Let's Roll]

It is exactly the solution and when they start doing the same for DUI as well as uninsured motorists we will be making some progress.

[Mr. Mojo]

Having lived in California I had a number of friends who had the "pleasure" of being hit by some illegal with no insurance,

I was almost killed by one a decade ago (in West L.A). He ran a red light with his $200 jalopy going about 50 mph and hit me on the driver's side of my car a couple feet from by door. ...spun my car around about 3 times before it came to a stop. Neither of us were too badly hurt, unbelievably. So he gets out of his car and says "no have licence....no have insurance." I replied "surprise, surprise." Cops got there pretty quickly, but for some reason didn't arrest the guy.

[101viking]

"guess it's too much to ask for people to obey the law."

The first step these so called "undocumeted migrants" do is break the law by coming here. After that all laws are subject to voluntary compliance. See here in California, it's only those who have something to lose that must comply.

Case in point: A very good friend of mine is a painting contractor, licensed, insured, bonded, carries the required workman's commpensation insurance, and requires all of his hispanic workers to file and document appropriate I-99 forms, etc. His business has been in steady decline the past several years because hispanics who carry none of the required, licenses, insurances, or document their employees can underbid him on every job. He has been forced to deal in the highly competitive commercial painting sector, where being licensed, insured, etc. is required and audited. Unfortunately the bidding process is long and sometimes corrupt. Meanwhile his children have to compete for classroom space in schools supported by the property taxes he pays with the children of the so called "undocumented migrants."

[MCSTex]

I recommend we all send emails to Orange County, Fullerton, Garden Grove, and the state, commending law enforcement for these actions. I hope they stay with it.
They should call INS and Border Patrol when the confiscate property.

[moehoward]

Impounding cars of un-licensed drivers has been standard policy for many, many years in LA. Often the drivers are given the option of going to jail or having their cars impounded.

Illegals should get both. Let them cool their heels in lock up until the border patrol picks them up.

[VU4G10]

"They're taking it out on the "ILLEGAL ALIEN" community"

[chuckwalla]

If they don't like the lawlessness of "Latin America" which is their home country then why do they come here illegally and proceed to break laws and expect immunity from laws.
If they want to live here they have to learn to live by laws like everyone else.
Don't turn this great country into a banana republic.

[chuckwalla]

The color of the cop doesn't matter it's the color of the law that matters.
These people are just using a slogan to escape laws.
Hmmm, just like where they came from.

[Tancredo Fan]

"It's clear we need to resolve the problem of people driving without licenses in California, but to use traffic laws to seize the property of undocumented immigrants is not the solution," said LULAC
president Hector Flores.

Hector is right... we need to do something about it. We need the cops to drag the illegals straight to the border and toss them out, and lien sale their property, including any real estate they may have, to help cover the costs.

Hector..... you're next, troublemaker.... aiding and abetting these border-jumping sponges is a felony :-)

[HiJinx]

Bump-Ping!!!
The Border List ^TM

FReepmail me to be added or removed...!

[bootyist-monk]

Go back to Mexico = Problem Solved.

[Sir Gawain]

[DumpsterDiver]

I posted this is on some other thread but here it is again:

Police Checks of Cars Halted
Maywood temporarily suspends checkpoints after complaints they ensnared mostly illegal immigrants without driver's licenses.

By Jose Cardenas
L.A. Times Staff Writer
August 22, 2003

Maywood has agreed to a four-month moratorium on police checkpoints, criticized by some for mainly ensnaring illegal immigrants who can't get driver's licenses.

Mayor Pro-Tem Samuel Peña and Mayor George Martinez announced the moratorium at a meeting attended by hundreds Wednesday night at St. Rose of Lima Church. The meeting was the result of efforts by two community groups that for months have worked to organize residents in opposition to the policy.

"I honestly believe that the community basically said, 'Look, city of Maywood, your checkpoints not only get unlicensed drivers, but they also get unlicensed drivers who can't get driver licenses,' " Peña said.

"Our job is to make sure safety comes first." The Police Department is short-handed anyhow, Peña said.

The checkpoints were established at 6 p.m., twice monthly, at four of Maywood's busiest intersections.

Some residents said that the checkpoints mostly caught undocumented workers, who cannot legally get California driver's licenses, as they drove home from work.

Residents also have criticized the checkpoints as a money-raising device for the city and a tow-truck operator with which it has a contract.

That company, Maywood Club Tow, earlier had agreed to release vehicles impounded at checkpoints to their owners without charge until Sept. 10.

Some residents said the four-month moratorium might be sufficient if a measure now in the state Senate — SB 60 — which would allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver's licenses, becomes law.

The rest of the article is here.

[Tancredo Fan]

Wow! A $50 junker with $150,000 worth of accessories. Que bueno!

[sweetliberty]

"impounding the vehicles of those without a driver's license."

Well, DUH!!!!!

"We're not talking about agents of law and order but of official corruption, as though this were Latin America," an irate Felipe Aguirre of the Comite Pro Uno, an activist group organizing protests against the practice, told EFE."

And just what is YOUR immigration status Felipe? I suppose you are referring to the "lawlessness" of those who are making some feeble attempt to enforce our laws as opposed to those "law-abiding" non-citizens who jump our borders and drive without a license.

"a new form of racial discrimination"

Then GO HOME where you won't be discriminated against. Some Americans get downright testy about having to support a bunch of criminals with their hard-earned money. Go figure.

"They're taking it out on the immigrant community,"

"They're taking it out on the immigrant community criminal aliens,"

"Maywood is "99.9 percent Hispanic"

Hey moron, did you ever consider that just maybe that is the reason that most of the people stopped there are hispanic? Doesn't take a rocket scientist to do the math.

"the massive impounding of vehicles in the Hispanic community is aimed at fattening the municipal coffers with easy money obtained from the most needy"

Bingo! Give the idiot a cigar. THAT is happening everywhere and generally it is the poorest people who suffer the most as a result. Hint: the rest of us have to show a driver's license and proof of insurance to get our vehicles back too. For a LEGAL resident this is not a problem. Funny how that works.

"It's clear we need to resolve the problem of people driving without licenses in California"

Hey, I got a novel idea. If they don't have a license and they can't produce one in a reasonable period of time such as what is alloted to other drivers and they cannot show proof of citizenship, we take the opportunity to deport their @$$e$!

[FITZ]

Some residents said that the checkpoints mostly caught undocumented workers, who cannot legally get California driver's licenses, as they drove home from work.

Then do the impounds for lack of auto liability insurance. Most illegals won't bother getting that either.

[SC Swamp Fox]

And it would be even easier.

Here in SC, if you allow your insurance to lapse the local Sheriff will send a deputy by to knock on your door and collect your plates. The license plate is the property of the State of South Carolina.

[Mr. Mojo]

Que bonito este carro.

(I just got the urge to hear War's "Low Rider").

[riri]

Here in SC, if you allow your insurance to lapse the local Sheriff will send a deputy by to knock on your door and collect your plates. The license plate is the property of the State of South Carolina

Only because Animal Farm has not come to you yet.

You see on Animal Farm, some animals are more equal than others.

[Bon mots]

Licenses? We don't need no stinkin' licenses...

[FITZ]

They have absolutely no regard for US laws.

They could do what Americans who lack drivers licenses are expected to do ---- walk, ride a bus, ride a bike. No one forces them to drive ---- and this isn't racist if they do the same to an illegal Irishman who doesn't have a drivers license. It's a little more than ironic that the illegal Latin Americans are complaining about the USA becoming like Latin America ---- that's exactly what is happening --- but they're the ones making it happen.

[FITZ]

Chances are that car has a flag of Mexico displayed somewhere on it --- often the front license plate. Send it and the driver to Mexico.