Thread: Funny... Illegals losing in CA.

Latinos accuse Colton police of racial profiling
Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/06/2010 05:18:28 PM PDT


COLTON - A large group of Latinos who travel along city roads say they're being unfairly targeted by police.
They claim they're pulled over too often, and it's because of their ethnicity and the type of car they drive.

But police say the claim is false and those who allege racial profiling have been stopped for legitimate reasons and were issued citations for vehicle code violations.

"We don't target race, we target activity," said Police Chief Bob Miller. "We'd be glad to work with the community on any concerns, but the majority of the tickets were for no (driver) license."

More than 100 people, mostly Latino, crammed into City Hall Tuesday to protest what they call profiling by the city's traffic officers. They claimed the police are unfairly stopping Latinos who drive older model vehicles that are in disrepair.

Miller said one protester handed him a stack of traffic ticket copies and almost all were for driving without a license. Sgt. Mike Hadden, who supervises the department's Traffic Division, said a traffic officer was out patrolling Mt. Vernon Avenue when he discovered there is an issue in the area with unlicensed drivers.

"So we started working the area," Hadden said. "We started to work the problem."

Resident Hortencia Gonzalez said most of the people protesting at Tuesday's City Council meeting don't have a driver's license.

"I have to drive," Gonzalez said.

Many of those stopped for unlicensed driving give a similar statement: They have to drive to get to work, take their children to school or buy groceries, Hadden said.

Recently called to the traffic stop of a woman who wanted to speak with a supervisor after being pulled over for driving without a license, Hadden asked the woman if she had the ability to obtain a license. She told him "no," he said.

"I have a duty to enforce California law," Hadden said. "Unlicensed driving is a serious issue. They're involved in a significant portion of fatal collisions and probably a majority of situations involving hit-and-run collisions."

Those who continue driving unlicensed will continue to be cited, Hadden said. He suggested they use public transportation.

"There really isn't another option other than having to pay huge fees when your vehicle is towed," Hadden said.

Omnitrans bus passes are sold at Cardenas Market, 1067 N. Mt Vernon Ave, Hadden said.

The reason some can't get a license is because they're in the country illegally, said Resident Maria Cortez. But others who say they've been targeted are citizens and have a license, she said. Her sister, who is a citizen, was pulled over and ticketed because her license plate tabs were stuck on crooked, Cortez said.

"We're upset," Cortez said. "People can't drive comfortably. They'll get pulled over for no reason."

Officers won't pull someone over for crooked tabs, but they will if the tabs are obscured, Hadden said.

Protester Abraham Aguilar said his sister was ticketed for driving without a license, but she has a Utah-issued driver's license. Hadden said state law requires residents to have a California-issued driver license.


Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/ci_16271473?source ... z11jDmydyo

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"We're upset," Cortez said. "People can't drive comfortably. They'll get pulled over for no reason."

"Cannot drive comfortably?" Dear God, how much longer are we going to tolerate these criminals! Perhaps it's time illegal invaders get bumper stickers that read: Illegal invader on board, use caution when pulling over because the laws do not apply to us.

I wonder do they have insurance?

Of course not. I witnessed the aftermath of a hit and run car accident where I saw the perpetrator argue a lie to the victim, while yelling at the injured victim, then the perpetrator got in his vehicle and sped away. I got his liscense though, and he was apprehended within 15 minutes.

Both his vehicle, and the occupants in it, fit the description in the above article. Latinos in an old, beat up, run down vehicle, in an area reknowned for having a large illegal alien population. I am glad he didn't hit my car. People need to re-think the uninsured motorist add on in their insurance policies if they live in certain parts of America.

Originally Posted by NoBueno

"We're upset," Cortez said. "People can't drive comfortably. They'll get pulled over for no reason."

"Cannot drive comfortably?" Dear God, how much longer are we going to tolerate these criminals! Perhaps it's time illegal invaders get bumper stickers that read: Illegal invader on board, use caution when pulling over because the laws do not apply to us.

AMEN I'M SICK IF THESE CRIMINALS THINKING THAT THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE HISPANIC AND ARE IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY. THEY ACT THIS WAY BECAUSE OUR GOVERNMENT HAS GIVEN THEM TO MUCH OF THINGS THAT THEY DON'T DESERVE. THEY ALSO THINK THEY ARE BETTER THAN AMERICANS. AND WHEN THEY DON'T GET THEIR WAY, THEY START PLAYING THE RACE CARD I'VE HAD MY FILL OF THESE PEOPLE.

Originally Posted by MontereySherry

I wonder do they have insurance?

WHY OF COURSE NOT THATS WHY THEY ARE GUILTY OF A LOT OF HIT AND RUN ACCIDENTS. THAT AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE IN THE COUNTRY ILLEGALLY IS WHY THEY RUN WHEN THEY ARE INVOLVED IN A MVA.

Originally Posted by MontereySherry

I wonder do they have insurance?

Let me think about that one...hmmm...NO!

Recently called to the traffic stop of a woman who wanted to speak with a supervisor after being pulled over for driving without a license, Hadden asked the woman if she had the ability to obtain a license. She told him "no," he said.

God, these people have *****! Demanding to talk with a supervisor knowing she didn't have a leg to stand on. Who runs Mexifornia? Illegals or Americans?

I have to pay extra on my auto insurance just because they drive with no insurance and to top it off they drive like their still in mexico and pay no attenion to our laws. Its insane to drive next to them they have no respect for other drivers for the most part but the ones I really love to see are the people who drive really slow on the free way because they think they won't get pulled over. I'm tired of the whining the police should be working with immagration to deport these people then all they can complain about is how stupid they are for not going through the immagration proceses the right way. Haha yea right it will still be our fault for not letting them stay. I for one think they should have no rights here and if they want to protest they can do it from TJ

My grandson delivers chinese food (can't get a better job because he is white!!)

He seems to get more than his share of tickets. Are the police "picking on him"??? Yes thay are.........because he is white!!!