Let's give illegals a break...
 

LAPD makes it easier for illegal immigrant drivers
March 14, 2011 | Frank Stoltze | KPCC

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Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck announced Monday that his officers will no longer automatically tow the cars of illegal immigrant drivers stopped at sobriety checkpoints.

The policy comes in response to the concerns of Latino civil rights activists, who say impound fees are unfairly costing otherwise hardworking illegal immigrant drivers hundreds of dollars.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said his department impounds about 1,000 cars a year from illegal immigrants at sobriety checkpoints – not because they’re drunk but because they don’t have driver’s licenses.

“As we reviewed our impound policies it became obvious to me that they had disparate impact on individuals based on something that was entirely out of their control," Beck said.

California doesn’t issue driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Under the new policy, officers will give unlicensed illegal immigrants “reasonable time” to find someone else to drive their cars home.

“No longer will these checkpoints have an adverse impact on somebody merely because of their (immigration) status," Beck said. "The sad truth is that the people who were most impacted by this law were the people that could afford it the least.”

The chief said unlicensed U.S. citizens and legal residents stopped at checkpoints will also be allowed “reasonable time” to find someone else to drive their car home.

Critics of Beck's policy have said undocumented immigrants are not supposed to be in the United States in the first place, and should not be driving.

Latino civil rights activists hailed the Beck’s decision.

"I think that in the course of time he will be acknowledged as a great police chief and a very wise man because this is the right thing to do," said Juan Jose Gutierrez of Vamos Unidos U.S.A.

Gutierrez said some cities - including Bell - target undocumented drivers for impounds as a revenue source. He and other Latino activists called on those cities to also change their impound policies.

Beck called it "the right thing to do."

Since this guy like illegals so much, maybe he could adopt a few & take them home.
We have plenty of illegals here in Australia. Can we send them over to CA?

Well, this thread title ought to get a bunch of attention... LOL

The part I find most interesting... is that the Mexican Government has an active pro illegal immigration policy... helping its citizens get to the US... because Billions of Dollars are sent back to help the Mexican economy....
But, what do you think they do to US Citizens who Illegally enter Mexico ? They put them into terrible prisons... where family members on the outside are responsible for bringing food to the prisoner...

I have a hard time imagining why anybody would want to enter Mexico legally or otherwise.

- Peter.

Unemployed Americans aren't as desperate.

Unconstitutional under the "equal protection" clause...but when did that ever stop them. Just candy-assed political posturing.

If a guy is DUI and his car is not towed, what's to stop him from driving again when he is released? Happens all the time.

It violates the equal protection clause to not tow their cars? How does that work?These drivers are not DUI. From the original article:I'd venture a guess that illegal immigrants who are DUI are still going to have their cars impounded.

CT recently began offering in-state tuition to the children of illegal immigrants provided they attended h.s. here. So we are going to subsidize their college education, they will take away in-state openings from legal CT residents and, as an employer, it will be illegal for me to hire them once they receive a degree since they are also here illegally. :confused:

Maybe it's a matter of incrementalism. The next step may very well be to give them legal status upon graduation, once again side-stepping the proper channels to receive citizenship.

Google "Dream Act"

Sometimes it appears to me that the legislators and judges in our country have lost their minds. I realize that applying the law in specific situations can seem to be unfair, unkind, whatever, but if that's the case, the LAW should be changed.

its terrible how we just keep inflicting our laws on foreign nationals....... they should be allowed to roam free with no threat of accountability

I know about the Dream Act, the state doesn't seem content to see if the federal legislation passes.

Their car will be impounded if they are drunk and driving; like any other DUI suspect.

But their car won't be impounded for driving without a license- like any other LEGAL citizens would be. Having two sets of laws, especially when one favors the criminal, is not going to have good results for anyone.