SAN FRANCISCO-CA --- In 2007, the last reporting period. the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported 28 pedestrians fatalities, 440 cyclists injured, a total of 52 people killed in traffic accidents in San Francisco.
Now, it's reported today that the city will no longer enforce the law for first time offenders of driving without a license. Worse, the new police chief endorses the proposal.
San Francisco Police Chief Gascon is quoted as saying that the city 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 police chief might want to develop some sensitivity to the 3,632 who were injured in traffic accidents in San Francisco or the five deaths and 346 motorcyclists' injuries, reported by the CHP. Traffic injuries are on the rise. Sensitivity does not allow the city or police chief to decide how to enforce the law. The law, driving with a license, is intended to protect against incompetent drivers.
Driving a 6,000-pound vehicle is not a right. It requires skill and most important for new arrivals in this country, it requires obeying traffic laws. --- Which are very different in other countries. Anyone driving the streets for Rome, Paris or Mexico City (as I have) knows that driving skills require more aggression to survive. There are less traffic lights and restrictions. There's a reason that 530,000 San Franciscans have driver's licenses and must carry a license while driving. New arrivals especially need to learn California traffic regulations and laws, including driving with a license at all times.
San Francisco County has no right to decide to suspend or modify existing state law. The board, mayor and agencies here and in the past have acted unilaterally, refusing to change state and federal laws. They just ignore or modify state and federal law at will. It's just another example of inherent symbolic gestures enacted by San Francisco to avoid 'offending' particular community----gestures, seemingly innocent, that have resulted in documented violence, death and injuries.
In this case, political correctness in San Francisco is helping to make the streets unsafe, contributing to the killing and maiming drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians. And the chief law enforcement officer in San Francisco endorses the leniency. Don't be surprise to see personal injury attorneys ready to use the new policy to charge city taxpayers millions in court settlements.
Comments
The can't drive any worse that a stoned doobie smoker making a bee line for the nearest medical weed outlet.
I wonder what other laws Police Chief Gascon will choose to not enforce? Maybe Grand Theft, Rape or even Murder?
this is CRAP....
Twice I got hit by a hit and run driver, I asked for the drivers license (they had no plates on front or back- age 17ish) one almost hit me with the huge van and another car. I was in shock at what I saw and this was over 3 years ago.
My older car was then trashed with the trunk and rear break lights not able to be fixed.
Next thing they will be shooting at us to get away.......NO NO NO!!!
Become legal or stay in your country. Sorry that life has RULES that are made to protect us hard working AMERICANS!
Stop taking away all OUR rights....This needs to STOP NOW!!! Are younger people doing this damage most of the time?
It's the law which needs to STAY AS IS..
STOP with the feel good sensitivity excuses... enough already!
bloody or dead is NOT the way it should be. Become legal then get your own license...and insurance, Wake up FOLKS!
Stand up for the law and the deadly facts.
Your child could be next.... hit and run HAS IT'S PRICE!
PLEASE STOP .. CAUSE AND
Once again the we see San Francisco officials refusing to do their sworn duty to uphold the law. How many lawsuits will be filed against the city when unlicensed illegal alien kill someone with their car the day after being let go by the San Francis...co Police? I had high hopes for our new police chief George Gascón. This shows that he, like the others at City Hall think they are above the law. When can I start disobeying laws I don't like, like paying parking tickets?
How many of those 2,632 injuries were cause by unlicenced drivers? How many were cause by drivers with a licence. Have u looked to see how many licensed and able drivers have DUIs? Your report is biased and full of holes. I'm embarrased for you. Trying to pass this illinformed blog as a news report. If u have a problem with immigrants, Be upfront about it, don't cower behind some news article. accept ur self and your prejudice for what it is and do what u inted to do with this post, express the truth and your beliefs.b
first stop driver without licenses will get a ticket, has 20 min to call someone with a valid ca driver license to drive the car if he doesn't make it police take the car. after two ticket the police will take the car.
they doing this because the ridiculous payment they has to make to get the car back.
as you can see is not big help. they can still take you car.
Arrest all unlicensed drivers and send all illegal aliens back to their country. I am tired of giving in to the illegal alien and listening to their complaints about their rights being violated. THEY HAVE NO RIGHTS IN THIS COUNTRY. SEND THEM ALL BACK!!!!!!
first stop driver without licenses will get a ticket, has 20 min to call someone with a valid ca driver license to drive the car if he doesn't make it police take the car. after two ticket the police will take the car.
they doing this because the ridiculous payment they has to make to get the car back.
as you can see is not big help. they can still take you car.
@bob I didn't know u could get Internet at trailer parks!
Go on google and type in THE WORLD, and tell me
if it's the size of your backyard. and by the way your cousin has been asking why u haven't returned her calls she said she's sure you're the daddy!
The police chief of San Fran should be fired immediately by the governor. His job is to enforce the laws, not pick and choose. If Avg White Male was driving faster than the limit because he needed to get to work, its far away and he cant be late hed still get a ticket. Lets quit creating protected classes and enforce the law equally among all our citizens.
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