Unlicensed

From the Sun-Sentinel-

Michael Haligowski was killed two years ago when a man with a suspended license ran a stop sign in Sunrise and hit his motorcycle. Last February, Broward Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Seguin was killed during a traffic stop on Interstate 595. Both the driver he had pulled over and the driver who hit him had invalid licenses.

Thursday, state Rep. Ari Porth introduced a bill that would put such drivers in jail and take away their cars if they are caught behind the wheel. "These are some of the most dangerous drivers out on the road," said the Coral Springs Democrat.

About 1.8 million of the state's 15.4 million licensed drivers have suspended or revoked licenses. Of that number, officials estimate about 800,000 refuse to get off the road. Many may not be aware their licenses are invalid.

*****

It also would require the state to notify drivers who have had their licenses canceled, suspended or revoked that their vehicles are subject to impoundment if they are caught driving.

Sounds like a good idea but I see a cry coming from illegal alien groups or the liberal media saying this law unfairly punishes the poor or illegals. As I see it, if you break the law there are consequences.

Update- Rick at SOTP points us to this Miami Herald article and what the ACLU has to say about this proposed law.

Howard Simon, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, said Porth's bill goes too far and would punish people or family members who have nothing to do with the crime. He said some families have only one car.

''The presumption is that everyone owns a car like they own a pair of shoes, and no one in the family is dependent on it,'' Simon said. ``The failure to think about that is one of the unhappy unintended consequences that could come from this. It may be a spouse needs that car to go to work.''

Just another instance of the ACLU being predictable. Is there ever a proposed law that meets with their approval?

Linked to- Big Dog, Woman Honor Thyself,