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  1. #1
    Senior Member American-ized's Avatar
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    CA: By and large, local police chiefs don't want licenses issued to illegals

    By and large, local police chiefs don't want licenses issued to illegals
    MercuryNews.com
    February 28, 2012
    By Lauren Golden

    While the county's two top law enforcement officers may want to see driver's licenses issued to illegal immigrants, chiefs throughout California and the San Gabriel Valley think any changes in the law should come from Sacramento or Washington.


    Both LAPD Chief Charlie Beck and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca support issuing driver's licenses to illegals. Baca said he would also like to see some sort of transition document.


    Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said his boss supports a plan to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants if it's "sensible and dispassionate."


    "He's supported this idea for a long time," Whitmore said.


    Baca made the remarks in support of Beck, who said giving out licenses would reduce hit-and-run accidents and the number of uninsured drivers on the road.

    Not all local chiefs agree.

    Though he said the decision is ultimately up to public policymakers, West Covina Police Chief Frank Wills said issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants would be appeasing lawbreakers.


    "This is actually a baby step in the very wrong direction," Wills said. "By giving them driver's licenses, essentially you're rewarding people who break the laws and that's generally poor public policy. Appeasement isn't always the best way to go."



    Whittier Police Chief Jeff Piper said that he would need to see the concrete data about hit and runs and other public safety issues that Beck cited.
    "At this time I haven't seen anything to substantiate that providing driver's licenses will, in fact, increase public safety on the roads," Piper said.


    In addition to safety issues, Wills said insurance was an important issue that any proposed law should address.


    "None of the legislation I've seen has a requirement that insurance be part of it," he said, "and I think that would be absolutely necessary."


    Monterey Park Police Chief Jim Smith said he thinks a state law granting driver's licenses to illegals would only cause confusion by conflicting with federal regulations that say undocumented residents are breaking the law.


    "It's a little frustrating," Smith said. "A lot of these issues get settled between Washington, D.C., and Sacramento and we're somewhat caught in the middle. I wish we could come to a conclusion one way or another from a state and federal level."


    Alhambra Police Chief Mark Yokoyama agreed that granting immigrants licenses would create legal confusion.


    "On it's surface, it doesn't make rational sense to me," he said. "The bigger issue is we have to deal with illegal immigration first."


    Not all local chiefs agreed or disagreed with Beck and Baca.

    Through his spokeswoman, Pasadena police Chief Phillip Sanchez declined to take a stand. San Gabriel police Chief said the issue is "not on my radar."


    South Pasadena Police Chief Joseph Payne said he did not have an opinion on the issue, but agreed that any unlicensed driver poses great safety concerns on the road.


    "They could be unsafe drivers if they've not demonstrated an ability to safely operate a motor vehicle (by getting a license)," he said.


    In the end, Wills and others agree that policymakers will decide whether these driver's licenses become a reality.


    "It's ultimately a public policy decision," Wills said. "It's not a decision that appointed chiefs are going to be making. I just worry it's going to open up a Pandora's Box."


    By and large, local police chiefs don't want licenses issued to illegals - San Jose Mercury News

  2. #2
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    NO AMNESTY

    Don't reward the criminal actions of millions of illegal aliens by giving them citizenship.


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    Please support our fight against illegal immigration by joining ALIPAC's email alerts here https://eepurl.com/cktGTn

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