Beginning Sunday, cops will no longer impound cars the first time drivers are pulled over without a license.
The reason: Many such drivers are in the United States illegally - and thus unable to get a license - and the officials pushing the change think that impounding their cars is an unfair hardship.
Instead, unlicensed drivers will be given 20 minutes to phone a relative or other acquaintance with a valid license and insurance to pick up the car. If the driver doesn't have a cell phone, police will help him contact someone.
If no one shows up, then the cop is to call a supervisor to approve the tow.
A second offense within six months means an automatic tow. But, for those who stay clean for half a year, the clock starts over.
The change means San Francisco will be far more accommodating to unlicensed drivers than police in Oakland, San Jose and even lefty Berkeley. Cops in all those cities impound the cars of people driving illegally.
Recently installed Police Chief George Gascón said San Francisco is "trying to be sensitive to all of the communities we serve."
"We recognize that this is a problem within the Hispanic community, where people working here can't get a driver's license because of their immigration status," Gascón said.
The 30-day car impounds have long been a sore point with the city's Latino politicos and activists, who feel the practice is unfair.
Some police officers we spoke with, however, said people without licenses are often lousy drivers - and that the change means more dangerous streets for everyone else.
"These are the same people who are sailing through stop signs and injuring people," said one traffic cop who asked not to be named for fear of retribution.
Gascón emphasized that unlicensed drivers "will still be cited. If they don't learn their lesson and repeat offend, the car will be impounded."
The chief said the change was already in the works when he came to town at the end of July. He said it had sprung from conversations between Mayor Gavin Newsom, Supervisor David Campos - who arrived here illegally from Guatemala at age 14 - and former Police Chief Heather Fong.
Newsom spokesman Nathan Ballard - whose boss is refusing to implement Campos-backed legislation barring the city from turning over illegal immigrant youths to the feds if they haven't been convicted of a felony - confirmed that when it comes to giving unlicensed drivers a break, the mayor and the supe agree.
"On this one, we're all on the same page," Ballard said.
Anonymous Coward User ID: 785110 United States 10/26/2009 10:17 AM
Re: Get stopped by the police in SF without a drivers license or insurance? No problemo!
so laws only apply to US Citizens then if you are an "illegal" you get a pass why the hell don't we get the chance to "pick" what laws we want to obey as well? Taxes for instance..
Anonymous Coward User ID: 802904 (OP) United States 10/26/2009 10:24 AM
Re: Get stopped by the police in SF without a drivers license or insurance? No problemo!
so laws only apply to US Citizens then if you are an "illegal" you get a pass why the hell don't we get the chance to "pick" what laws we want to obey as well? Taxes for instance..
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 798075
Kat Mama User ID: 796283 United States 10/26/2009 10:26 AM
Re: Get stopped by the police in SF without a drivers license or insurance? No problemo!
so laws only apply to US Citizens then if you are an "illegal" you get a pass why the hell don't we get the chance to "pick" what laws we want to obey as well? Taxes for instance..
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 798075
Up is down, black is white, good is bad, bad is good..... CONDEMNATION without INVESTIGATION is the HIGHEST form of IGNORANCE
malu User ID: 800077 United States 10/26/2009 10:28 AM
Re: Get stopped by the police in SF without a drivers license or insurance? No problemo!
so laws only apply to US Citizens then if you are an "illegal" you get a pass why the hell don't we get the chance to "pick" what laws we want to obey as well? Taxes for instance..
Up is down, black is white, good is bad, bad is good.....
Quoting: Kat Mama
war is peace, and this is f*cking nuts
oi vey When peaceful revolution becomes impossible, violent revolution becomes inevitable.
"Hard pressed on my right. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking."
Anonymous Coward User ID: 782508 United States 10/26/2009 10:33 AM
Re: Get stopped by the police in SF without a drivers license or insurance? No problemo!
I wonder if Mexicans realize they are being taken advantage of as much as they are? There is one reason, and one reason only, that most dems, and some repubs like McCain and Dubya wanted amnesty: votes. You make them all legal, chances are you get loyal votes from them just from grattitude.
Anonymous Coward User ID: 747845 United States 10/26/2009 10:47 AM
Re: Get stopped by the police in SF without a drivers license or insurance? No problemo!
I´ve got pulled over twice in massachussets and nothing happened. The second time I was pulled over by a state cop. I had insurance though.
I was an illegal alien, but I´m a citizen again back at home.
Anonymous Coward User ID: 802876 United States 10/26/2009 11:50 AM
Re: Get stopped by the police in SF without a drivers license or insurance? No problemo!
The reason: Many such drivers are in the United States illegally - and thus unable to get a license - and the officials pushing the change think that impounding their cars is an unfair hardship.
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 802904
I'm going to use this if I ever get pulled over again.
"Come on officer, expecting everyone to follow the rules just isn't fair!" Considering becoming an "undocumented worker".
eviltwin618@yahoo.com
Anonymous Coward User ID: 594779 United States 10/26/2009 11:55 AM
Re: Get stopped by the police in SF without a drivers license or insurance? No problemo!
so laws only apply to US Citizens then if you are an "illegal" you get a pass why the hell don't we get the chance to "pick" what laws we want to obey as well? Taxes for instance..
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 798075
It's Voluntary :)
Fantasia II User ID: 737443 United States 10/26/2009 11:57 AM
Re: Get stopped by the police in SF without a drivers license or insurance? No problemo!
i wonder what would happen to me if i was pulled over in mexico, living there illegally, with no drivers license or insurance?
and i refused to speak their native language?
Quoting: malu
my father, a us citizen, opened a european restaraunt down
there, he drives his california registered car there with his california drivers license, he rents an apartment, all without any mexican paperwork.
Anonymous Coward User ID: 667248 United States 10/26/2009 12:04 PM
Re: Get stopped by the police in SF without a drivers license or insurance? No problemo!
Beginning Sunday, cops will no longer impound cars the first time drivers are pulled over without a license.
The reason: Many such drivers are in the United States illegally - and thus unable to get a license - and the officials pushing the change think that impounding their cars is an unfair hardship.
.
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 802904
This is AWESOME.
Finally police are realizing they have bigger fish to fry.
Meanwhile, I hope you all love tacos!
Anonymous Coward User ID: 526155 Canada 10/26/2009 12:07 PM
Re: Get stopped by the police in SF without a drivers license or insurance? No problemo!
so laws only apply to US Citizens then if you are an "illegal" you get a pass why the hell don't we get the chance to "pick" what laws we want to obey as well? Taxes for instance..
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 798075
I can't remember the last time I made a tax payment.
Anonymous Coward User ID: 526155 Canada 10/26/2009 12:08 PM
Re: Get stopped by the police in SF without a drivers license or insurance? No problemo!
Get exactly this sort of proplem with pikeys and criminals in the UK - if you make yourself too much of a headache to deal with, the police just give up on you.
Anonymous Coward User ID: 508527 United States 10/26/2009 12:18 PM
Re: Get stopped by the police in SF without a drivers license or insurance? No problemo!
in texas you can get insurance without a license of any kind. there is a such a big market of illegal aliens that insurance companies are forced to do this because if they don't their competitor will. one marketing rep i talked to said these policies actually have a very low loss ratio because the illegals are scared to use the insurance if they do have an accident. they just settle up with cash.
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