With the recent killing of four innocent children, there has been much discussion as to what we could have done to prevent this and what should we do now to prevent future incidents. I have a few proposals.
The vehicle in question has been pulled over no less than two times prior to the accident, once driven by her (Olga Marina Franco, the driver in the fatal accident) and once by her boyfriend while she was in the vehicle. In a recent article here in the Globe, it was identified by Worthington Public Safety Director Mike Cumiskey that the current police procedures allow unlicensed drivers to provide an alternate identification. The article stated "If they can produce ID, they are cited and sent on their way with a court date to follow."
In the interest of public safety, I would contend that this procedure violates state laws and places the officers at risk of being brought up on charges for accessory to a crime -- the crime being operating a vehicle without a valid license. A solution: Initiate a County/City ordinance as follows.
Any person pulled over the first time who cannot produce a verifiable valid driver's license will result in the vehicle being impounded, and the driver walks home. The only option given to the Officer is to provide the driver and passengers a ride to the nearest "safe haven," which could be a gas station, restaurant or the police station. The second time the same vehicle is caught operated by an unlicensed driver, the county confiscates the vehicle. The driver is then declared a repetitive offender and loses the vehicle. (This precedence has already been set with the truck that the dog catcher utilizes.) Also, if the registered owner cannot prove they are a legal citizen, they not only don't get the ride back but get tagged with a hefty fine.
This program eventually would be self-sustaining. The sale of the confiscated vehicles will defray any incidental costs incurred in the transport and storage. This proposal will eventually get 95 percent of the illegal drivers off the road.
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Cumiskey, during a recent immigration panel, spoke in the Globe of "the great number of people from Latin America the police department deals with -- adding that identifying some of them can be a problem -- and (Worthington Regional Hospital Administrator Mel) Platt spoke of the rising number of debt write-off the hospital is dealing with. Also mentioned was the danger of having several people use the same identity when it comes to hospital records." In another article in the Globe (Feb 28, 2008), Mayor Alan Oberloh was quoted as saying (regarding a guest worker program), "They need to get documentation, so if there is an issue, there is always a way to find out if this person should be here." (Sorry, Mr. Mayor, but there already is a process for identification of guest workers.)
A solution: There is an anticipated $21 million to $31 million windfall expected from the sale of the hospital. Initiate a task force to verify (countywide) residents' legal status. Require businesses that employ 10 or more people to provide the names and Social Security numbers of all employees. This task force can verify citizenship or work-visa status through the many available systems. Also, initiate a city rental verification process that requires all rental properties to check legal residency status of the renters. Use a portion of the hospital sale to assist in the funding, and formally request an ICE office in Worthington.
There are several other courses of action available if the city truly desires to live by the rule of law with which this country was founded. On the other hand they could advertise Worthington as the premier sanctuary city in southern Minnesota.
I want to state for the record that I do not oppose legal immigration. If you look back far enough, every civilization can trace immigrants back to their population, I oppose illegal aliens and their negative impact on our economy.
