Driver's Licenses For Undocumented Immigrants? LAPD Chief Charlie Beck Says Yes

Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck thinks that all Californians should be allowed to obtain state-issued drivers licenses -- even undocumented immigrants.

He made his position clear at a meeting with Los Angeles Times editors and reporters on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Beck acknowledged California's failure to put a stop to unlicensed driving. He suggested that issuing even "provisional" or "nonresident" licenses would have a huge impact on regulating the road while differentiating documented residents from the undocumented, a distinction that Beck believes would still be important.

Beck on driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, from the LA Times:

Why wouldn't you want to put people through a rigorous testing process? Why wouldn't you want to better identify people who are going to be here? It doesn't make any sense to me. And we could increase safety on the roads. When you make things illegal you cause a lot of other things by chain reaction.

Those "other things" include a higher rate of uninsured drivers on the road and erratic driving behavior, which lead to more hit-and-run collisions.

A San Francisco Chronicle analysis of California statistics found that hit-and-run collisions accounted for 7.8 percent of traffic accident deaths in 2001 -- more than twice the national average, which was 3.8 percent at the time.

More recent reports show that there were 15,611 hit-and-run collisions in California that left 20,260 injured and 185 dead, according to a 2009 annual report from the California Highway Patrol [PDF].

The Los Angeles police chief has been more vocal on the issue of unlicensed driving in his effort to change the LAPD’s vehicle impound rules. Beck's proposed impound reforms would do away with the current standard of a 30-day vehicle impound and fines of up to $2,000 for all unlicensed drivers -- a burden that he thinks is unfair on undocumented immigrants, notes CBS.

Comments

[ChuckDarwin]

02:25 AM on 03/01/2012

Of course they should, you kneejerks. Read why a POLICE CHIEF would think that way before you pop off.

[Damn Strange]

02:27 PM on 02/27/2012

If he can't do the job fire him.

[Damn Strange]

02:25 PM on 02/27/2012

Obama needs the illegals to vote.

[Damn Strange]

02:25 PM on 02/27/2012

This guy should be in a cell, not guarding them.

[dirtydog1776]

02:27 PM on 02/26/2012

The duty of a police officer is to enforce the laws as passed by the legislature, elected by the people. Any law may be taken to the court system for review.

What we have here is an individual who is saying, "I can do whatever I want for whatever the reason."

The same mentality as Hugo Chavez, the Castro Brothers, Uncle Joe Stalin, Wolfie Hitler, the Kennedy's and all the others who believe that they are better than others in determining what is best for everyone else.

Last I heard, we were to suppose to a nation of laws and the division of powers. Did Obama and his friend Charlie, in their attempts to buy more power and votes, throw out those concepts when I wasn't looking?

Wouldn't surprise me.

[ivotedabsentee]

01:34 AM on 02/27/2012

[What we have here is an individual who is saying, "I can do whatever I want for whatever the reason." ]

No, that wasn't his stated position. He did not say he can do whatever he wanted.

He gave an opinion:

"Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck thinks that all Californians should be allowed to obtain state-issued drivers licenses -- even undocumented immigrants."



[The duty of a police officer is to enforce the laws as passed by the legislature, elected by the people.]

Agreed, but note Beck's comment:

"During the meeting, Beck acknowledged California's failure to put a stop to unlicensed driving."

I don't see that Beck is in charge of statewide law enforcement\ as he is only the LAPD police chief.

[haroliano]

11:18 PM on 03/20/2012

You missed Henry Kissinger when setting up all those dictatorships in the 70's

[ahamay79]

10:36 AM on 02/25/2012

"They call it paradise, I don't know why. You call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye."

[ABR2195]

09:41 AM on 02/25/2012

If an illegal immigrant is caught by any sort of government official or any concerned citizen for that matter, they should be deported, not given a driver's license

[guavass]

03:19 PM on 02/25/2012

no

[dirtydog1776]

02:20 PM on 02/26/2012

Yes, it is the law. We are suppose to be a nation of law, not of personal whims and opinions and a division of power. Communist Russia and China, Venezuela, Zimbabwe....they are nations of whims and opinions. Like most liberals, history has taught you nothing.

[smp276dp]

09:39 AM on 02/25/2012

Before I read any comments. The GOP will try to burn this guy for what I believe is a smart choice.
But the GOP and smart do not go well together. In fact they are out right idiotic.

[ahamay79]

10:27 AM on 02/25/2012

Let them become citizens, then they will have all the rights due to them. Liberals love to give give give. How about they earn earn earn.

[smp276dp]

10:56 AM on 02/25/2012

Jesus was a giver also. You want to condem him?

[Lost Angeles]

01:34 PM on 02/25/2012

That Lefty Liberal Reagan gave them amnesty.

[shouston]

01:27 PM on 02/25/2012

i'm not gop (yuck), but you obviously don't live in a border state.

[smp276dp]

02:04 PM on 02/25/2012

I live in Georgia. and I am from New York.
Not sure what that has to do with anything.
Other than pacifiy your desire to stereo type.

[Daniel Radtke]

08:50 AM on 02/25/2012

Why don't we when someone turns 18 Give them a free license free rent free phone free gas and free food and free education ? did I miss anything? I thought all those things were a privilidge that one recieves when they became responsible and held a job. That was destroyed when they started section 8 where people who did nothing all day long were able to move into neighborhoods of hard working americans who had to work for their housing and the others were able to move right in next door without doing a thing to have that privilidge to live there. I thought the idea of this United States was the right to prosper. Now it has become the right for anything and doing nothing to get everything. Oh I forgot why not put a gun into their hands at 18 also with no training on how to use it since we are supposed to be tolerent of everything and supply everyone with everything. Than I guess that would do it. A person would have everything they need to do nothing at all. HOPE FOR THE CHANGE WE NEED NOT FALSE HOPES.

[paulfiquet]

07:59 AM on 02/25/2012

legal or illegal ?????all the laws passed in state capitals and Washington really mean very little next to nothing as they are not enforced. tax payers are supporting the millions of illegals in this country and now they dont ask...for freebies ....they demand....are we listening ?? in New Mexico they issue them drivers licenses and illegals come from everywhere to get them ...stupid ????required insurance to obtain the license ...are you kidding !!!!! spanish soon to be required to obain drivers license ...it s coming...

[Vavavoom]

08:27 AM on 02/25/2012

make sure you look under your bed every night

[Slvtree]

07:50 AM on 02/25/2012

This is a great idea now they can travel and spread there crime in a much greater area They should give them free gas at least 10 gal. a day That way they wouldn't have to stick up gas stations

[patfitz1245]

07:50 AM on 02/25/2012

Gee,, maybe he and his police force should be out inforcing the law and not sitting around giving interviews.. maybe if they would really just do there job we wouldn't have such a problem or a need to treat these inlleagles as house guest

[syl1969]

08:06 AM on 02/25/2012

Gee... maybe if you had actually read the article, you could have seen how to correctly spell "illegals".

[hlasv3]

09:57 AM on 02/25/2012

In espanola, Su casa, mi casa. Translato: Your house is my house. Give me all you got gringo!

[gelewis]

07:50 AM on 02/25/2012

Let's us look at this in a different way. If, I was an illegal in Canada, Cuba, Germany, Russia, France, Great Britain, Japan or China can I get a drivers licences? Probably not, at lease I hope so. Then why in the US?

[oakhilliron]

08:35 PM on 02/25/2012

In those countries and mexico you would be in jail, and not cushy ones like ours.

[azazel27]

07:46 AM on 02/25/2012

CLOSE THE BORDERS!!!! That will solve ALL the issues!!!!!

[Vavavoom]

08:33 AM on 02/25/2012

Like you did with your mind?

[azazel27]

06:18 PM on 02/25/2012

My mind is open! but if we continue to these our countries borders open it will be the end to this WONDERFUL country as we know it! Is it right in this country where ENGLISH is our national Language that you cannot get a job unless you are bilingual??? Why should they have the privilege to drive a car and they do NOT even pay taxes! they are in this country ILLEGALLY!!! Our ancestors came over from other countries and were excited to learn English and adapt to OUR law and customs! this country is a melting pot not a salad bowl! if YOU do not like it you should move to Mexico!

[Rick75]

07:45 AM on 02/25/2012

They ( fed. & state Gov. ) aren't deporting them. Give them a licence. now they can get insurance. I'd rather get hit by an illegal with ins. then one without Ins.

[SweetSmile]

08:24 AM on 02/29/2012

driving the way North in Massachusetts...and I HAVE been hit by an illegal immigrant from south america who was wiithout insurance and you know what that did? It made me want to send the illegal back where he came from all the more.