Aug 11 2008
Perhaps We Should ALL be Worried
Highway checkpoints will go up statewide today as part of a push to catch drunken drivers — but some fear they will catch more illegal immigrants than imbibers.
State law prohibits illegal immigrants from getting driver’s licenses, and word of widespread checkpoints prompted panic this week in the Hispanic community.
“People are scared to death and going underground,” said Dr. Luke Smith, a child psychiatrist from Hillsborough who works with Hispanic patients. “People are afraid to get health care. They’re staying home from their jobs. Their kids are missing days of school.”
Sigh… where to begin?
Firstly, if you’re here illegally, you should be afraid. Wanna know why? Because you’re a criminal here illegally! Be afraid, be very afraid. Better yet, get the hell out!
Officials with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, which encouraged law enforcement agencies to hold the checkpoints, said they have nothing to do with illegal immigration. They say the campaign is aimed at drunken driving and is being held today to play on the unique date 08/08/08, which echoes the state’s legal threshold of drunkenness, 0.08.
Now just because I have no sympathy for the crimmigrants doesn’t mean I support these checkpoints. We went round-and-round on this a few months ago and my mind hasn’t changed… mostly because I’m right. You can’t stop someone for no reason at some checkpoint. Checkpoints are unconstitutional and have no place in a free society. Now I’m afraid, and I haven’t done anything.
