Thread: More Aiding and Abetting,

http://www.vvdailypress.com/2005/112636986633654.html

Saturday, September 10, 2005
Getting insurance easy for foreign drivers
Illegal immigrants find insurance companies willing to insure drivers with foreign licenses


By MIGUEL GONZALEZ/Staff Writer


VICTORVILLE — Joaquin is an illegal immigrant who works in the High Desert and, despite not being able to obtain a driver's license, he drives fully insured.

Joaquin, who withheld his last name out of fear of deportation, is one of the many illegal immigrants who have started to use their home country-issued driver's license to get insured in the United States.

"If I could, I would get a license from this state. The state won't give me one," said Joaquin, an immigrant from El Salvador.

Insurance companies such as Legacy, Viking and Infinity have started to provide insurance to undocumented clients living in the High Desert.

"There are a lot of people with international driver's licenses. This is all legal, and it helps everybody because it helps protect drivers against uninsured people," insurance broker Julie Fuentes said.

Fuentes, who owns Anew Insurance Services in Victorville, said her business has increased dramatically since more insurance companies started recognizing the market for undocumented drivers.

"Despite being undocumented, people still need to drive to get to their jobs," Fuentes said. "They are trying to be responsible by insuring their cars in case of an accident, and that benefits every driver out there."

Victorville sheriff's station Traffic Sgt. John Mattke agreed.

"I think it's great that they are trying to be responsible. It's important and a favorable thing for everyone," Mattke said.

Joaquin has been driving insured for two months. Before that he drove without insurance for two years.

"I only got behind the wheel to go to work and pick up my kids from school. I was always worried that I was going to be stopped by police, and I always made sure be extra careful," he said in Spanish.

By having insurance and a driver's license, Fuentes said her clients reduce the possibility of having their vehicle impounded by police.

"It all depends on the situation, and the deputy always has the discretion on whether to impound the vehicle, but we generally would accept an international drivers license," Mattke said.

Matkke added that research has shown that people driving without a license or insurance are more likely to be involved in a hit-and-run incident.

According to sheriff's records, for the month of August the city recorded

206 car accidents and 56 of them were hit-and-run.

Minuteman Corps of California representative John Waite considered this is a way for illegal immigrants to get around California law.

"I think to drive here, you have to be a U.S. legal driver. I don't how people are being responsible by breaking the law," Waite said.

"If they want a license and insurance, they should come here legally," he added.

Joaquin said he has never been involved in an accident and said that most people without a California license are among the most careful drivers he knows.

"When we get in that car, we are betting our future on it. We need to be more careful than anybody."

Just another perfect example of our laws being totally ignored...we don't like them, so we will figure out a way AROUND THEM.

Pinto Bean

Illegals having insurance is such a RARITY. I've seen so many
accidents where they've fled the scene so perhaps this will give
them the confidence to stay and see it thru.

What's confusing though is how do these agencies know of their
driving record if they have out of country licenses??? How do they
determine rates... good drivers discount... bad drivers increase..

I'm willing to bet these are fly by night companies that change
location every 60 days.