Posted on 08/14/2006 9:12:53 AM PDT by Kaslin
California dreamers: It's better not to get driver's license at all
California lawmakers are working on a plan that would cut the penalty for some of the people who drive without licenses, giving a huge break to those who just don't want to bother with all that nuisance of getting one.
The state Senate has voted 25-14 to endorse a plan that would reduce a required 30-day impoundment of vehicles to 24-hours – if the drivers never bothered to get a license, according to a report by columnist Debra J. Saunders on SFGate.com, an internet portal for the San Francisco Chronicle.
The old law required that 30-day parking plan for the vehicles of drivers caught without licenses, whether they never had one or their licenses were forfeited or suspended.
The new plan keeps that 30-day penalty if a driver's license is suspended or forfeited, but cuts it to 24 hours for those who didn't bother with the system in the first place.
"Break federal immigration law, then break California law by driving without a license, and Sacramento wants you to get your car back the next day so that you can continue driving without a license – and probably without insurance, because you need a license to qualify for it," Saunders wrote.
"It's' almost as if the Legislature is telling illegal immigrants that the state expects them to drive without a license."
State Sen. Chuck Poochigian, R-Fresno, noted it actually penalizes those who try to comply with state law.
The SFGate report said that the bill's author, Sen. Nell Soto, D-Pomona, described the bill as making it "fairer" because it would stop the "excessive penalties" against those "unable to obtain drivers licenses."
John Whitney, a member of the Christian group One LA, told Saunders that his organization has worked for the plan because as a "conservative Christian evangelical," he wanted to see special treatment for those who cannot get licenses because they are not legal residents.
"I am sure that Whitney is right that a month-long impounding of their cars is a hardship on working families. It is also a hardship on people who drive with suspended licenses – as it is meant to me," Saunders wrote.
"The pro-illegal immigrant lobby likes to complain that the law sends mixed messages to illegal immigrants. Then they push for laws – like a slap on the wrist for driving without a license – that muddle the message again," Saunders wrote.
Former Gov. Gray Davis did sign in 2003 a short-lived law allowing illegal immigrants to obtain California licenses. That was repealed when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger took office.
"The SFGate report said that the bill's author, Sen. Nell Soto, D-Pomona, described the bill as making it "fairer" because it would stop the "excessive penalties" against those "unable to obtain drivers licenses."
I have a better idea. It is much more fair if all these half wits who come up with these astronomically stupid ideas are required to pay all the societal costs involved by allowing illegals, or anyone, to break the law...
Oh, they are just undocumented drivers.
Limits the need to go to Michigan to get one. (All that unnecessary driving means less gas consumption, and we can statistically prove that global warming will be positively impacted).
Along with the US BP's new ruling that a chase must be approved by a supervisor, one would think the gates for illegals are opening even wider.
I hope so.
If someone is in this country illegally they should be deported,if they're driving without a license they should be ticketed and/or jailed and have the vehicle impounded.I'm paying through the nose for insurance coverage on my vehicle primarily due to the fact that between 10% to 20% of the motorists in my area are uninsured.
Shoot, lets just do away with all laws because they all inconvenience someone!
susie
Dennis Mountjoy was on the Assembly committee, but he was a no-show or abstained from voting. What happened there?
I just can't believe these people. Do they really think nations get to the point of being a, Strong Nation, by being sissies? Rome fell because them folks all turned into sissies...
Amazing
"Dennis Mountjoy was on the Assembly committee, but he was a no-show or abstained from voting. What happened there?"
Makes no difference, it's Senate bill and the Republicans on the committee wouldn't make a difference anyway.
It can't even be stopped with the full Assembly vote.
The only bills that can be stopped are bills that require 2/3 vote and they can only be stopped in the Assembly since the Democraps have a 2/3 in the Senate.
Ten days confiscation of firearms for the law-abiding. One day confiscation of vehicles for illegal immigrants driving without a license.
Warning! Mix liberalism with cultural separatism and you've got a highly contagious disease.
Choose your state representatives wisely. Inoculate them against both maladies. Carefully exam the history of any candidate which your party may offer. Look for strong ties with other cultures, especially Hispanic.
Not to solve the problem but could a person who was in an accident with a person without a license and insurance be able to sue the state of Calf. for passing a law or rescinding a law that only benefits only a certain group of people? On the other hand wouldn't all of this be unconstitutional under equal rights? Maybe some FR person that has more knowledge on the laws might be able to answer this.
It is a stupid law, but then it is California. I hope other states do not follow suit
It was easy to figure out that stupid brain storm could have olny come from a liberal
ping
Thanks for pointing that out.
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