Police Discriminate Against Criminals

Found via Michele Malkin a story of political correctness taken to a degree of absurdity beyond belief. As reported in the Oakland Tribune

Oakland police halt DUI checkpoints

Immigrant activists say roadblocks discriminate against those without licenses

By Heather MacDonald, STAFF WRITER

OAKLAND -- Oakland police officers have stopped setting up roadblocks to check whether drivers are under the influence because of a rash of complaints from the Latino community and City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente.

The checkpoints, which allow officers to demand licenses and proof of insurance, are an effective way to get drunken drivers off Oakland's streets, city leaders agree. But the checks also have ensnared dozens of illegal immigrants who are not licensed to drive yet otherwise obey the law.(emphasis mine)

I don't know the law in California but I do know that where I live driving without a license is a crime. It seems to me that no matter how many other laws you dutifully obey when you break one, you break one. I can't see "yes I shot him five times but I otherwise obey the law" as a viable defense.

And here's the real kicker, the people getting caught, are more than likely to be illegal immigrants. Being in the country illegally pretty much wipes out their "otherwise obey the law" theory.

The halt in checkpoints is apparently temporary while they draft new guidelines.

The new checkpoint guidelines, which are not final, may call for police to notify Latino community organizations of the time and location of coming checkpoints. The checkpoints will be held after the evening rush-hour commute and rotated throughout the city, officials said.

I'm sure once the public at large has been alerted to where an when roadblocks will be set up their value as a law enforcement technique is just going to skyrocket.

One voice of sanity in the whole PC mess is City Councilmember Larry Reid.

"I don't care if they are illegal immigrants," Reid said.

"They should not be driving on our streets without a license, without insurance. I expect the Oakland Police Department to do its job and get them off the street."

He almost got it right. A big part of the problem is that he should care if they are illegal aliens.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 02:37 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment