Thread: Little recourse for drivers hit by uninsured illegal immigra

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Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Little recourse for drivers hit by uninsured illegal immigrants

By Howard Ain - Columnist
It's something that's become a big problem in the Tristate - uninsured motorists damaging other vehicles and fleeing. Part of the problem can be traced to Hispanics who have moved to the area and who don't have driver's licenses.
Nadia Crum of Hamilton said her car was damaged in June while it was parked at her fianc?'s employment parking lot.

"It was an Hispanic man who did not have a license, who did not have insurance and it wasn't even his car. Now they're trying to tell me that I have to pay $500 to get my car fixed," Crum said.

Crum does have uninsured motorist insurance, but the $500 she will have to pay is from the deductible for the $2,000 in damage done to her car. Fortunately, the car is still drivable, but it has been knocked out of alignment - in addition to the scrapes and dents that are now in it.

Crum said she doesn't want to have to pay anything and blames the driver of the car that hit hers.

"They took him to jail that night because he was a drunk driver. He got out Monday on bond and they can't find him," she said.

Forest Park police tell me the driver failed to show up for his court date so a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Now, I've advised Crum to go after the owner of the vehicle, and she's notifying the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles that the owner failed to pay the damages as required under the state's financial responsibility law. The car owner may now have his driver's license suspended.

Attorney Iversy Velez of Florence said unlicensed, uninsured Hispanics are involved in traffic accidents almost every day. She blames it on the U.S. policy of not giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens.

"If you give them their driver's license, you're going to give them a written driving test. They will have to go through the traffic school. They will have to take the printed test, the road test, and then they will be able to get the license. If only that happens our roads will be safer," Velez said.

Velez said, armed with a driver's license, illegal aliens will be able to get auto insurance and that will protect everyone. Many states don't want to give such driver's licenses believing it will give them legal status. However, Velez said it's not a legal issue, it's a safety issue.

In fact, 14 states currently allow driver's licenses to be obtained by those not legally in this country. The laws were not only enacted for public safety reasons, but to lower insurance premiums by decreasing the pool of unlicensed and uninsured drivers.

In many cases, law enforcement supports these laws because they recognize the advantage of being able to identify drivers and discourage unlicensed drivers from fleeing minor traffic accidents for fear of being caught driving without a license.

Attorney Iversy Velez of Florence said unlicensed, uninsured Hispanics are involved in traffic accidents almost every day. She blames it on the U.S. policy of not giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens.

Having a license does not a safe driver make.

"If you give them their driver's license, you're going to give them a written driving test. They will have to go through the traffic school. They will have to take the printed test, the road test, and then they will be able to get the license. If only that happens our roads will be safer," Velez said.

Yea, and if you believe that load of bologna, I've got some swamp land in Arizona I'd like to sell you.

Velez said, armed with a driver's license, illegal aliens will be able to get auto insurance and that will protect everyone. Many states don't want to give such driver's licenses believing it will give them legal status. However, Velez said it's not a legal issue, it's a safety issue.

Again a bunch of malarkey and convoluted reasoning.

Finally, Miss Velez, you must think us entirely without brains. Anyone can insure a vehicle but taking out insurance does not insure continuance of coverage.