Laine wrote on Feb 18, 2008 10:52 PM:More checkpoints like this need to conducted on a surprise basis. As this checkpoint showed, too many drivers are taking the "privileage" of driving to task. Rule #1 in all driver education is that driving is a privileage, NOT a right. Thank you Escondido Police!

Escondodo wrote on Feb 19, 2008 3:37 AM:Keep up the good work! Slow and steady wins the race. I have to wonder though, how long it takes for these types of unlicensed drivers to get another beater car and get back in traffic. I know people who think - no license-no problem. Beater cars are easy to find. Father Joe is a last resort. The penalties need to be stiffer to really make a difference.

Greg in Oceanside wrote on Feb 19, 2008 3:54 AM:Great job EPD. As we know from some recent arrests for other traffic crimes, there are a lot of unlicensed drivers on our roads who endanger us all. I'm wondering if any of these unlicensed drivers were also illegal aliens? And if so, were they subsequently detained and/or deported?

Maria wrote on Feb 19, 2008 3:56 AM:Driving without a license in Escondido,really? Thank you EPD.

I got stuck paying to have my car fixed because of one of these "uninvited guests" in our country who ,of course, wasn't licensed or insured.

local wrote on Feb 19, 2008 7:53 AM:I happened on this traffic check yesterday and I was elated to see it. It was in a totally logical area, an area Esco. has encouraged and promoted as a destination for all sorts of unsavory types from anywhere and everywhere. I've wondered for awhile now why large groups of people "choose" to rent (or for awhile, buy) houses only in the Esco. flats when there are properties much more suited to multiple occupancy/boarding house situations, larger secluded homes with more parking, in the upper income areas on the edges of the city. I wonder if it's a segregation, block-busting situation amongst landlords and realtors. Nice for you if you live in the protected areas, not so nice if you live in the flats. So bravo, EPD, we appreciate the help.

really? wrote on Feb 19, 2008 7:55 AM:I don't see how that happened.....we could see the check point far away and decided to turn down a side street to avoid it. I think the EPD needs to become more clever when it comes to these check points. We simply didn't want to go through the hassle of stopping, so we took another route.

local wrote on Feb 19, 2008 8:37 AM:To really?: yes, I agree about it being easy to avoid and I am sure word traveled very fast that it was going on. My feeling was that it should have been held on a day that was not a school holiday, that would have been wonderful. But the EPD was using the school parking lot and would not have been able to do that on a school day. The other side of Ash, southbound after that badly engineered too-fast blind corner with that park as a staging area and on a school day at the times school is starting and ending would work very well.

esteban wrote on Feb 19, 2008 8:41 AM:To "really?"...the cops HAVE to offer an alternative route during these checkpoints. You are not as smart as you thought you were!!!!

Syl wrote on Feb 19, 2008 9:17 AM:What kind of third world cesspool are we allowing Escondido to turn into. It seems lately that every law on the books is made to be broken. This is not the kind of country I want for my children. More checkpoints please!

Kidding me wrote on Feb 19, 2008 9:27 AM:I wonder how many of these drivers were white tweekers from Esco???? Just about more of them than these brown people that seem to scare all of you. But I'm sure that is incorrect and all of the above drivers crossed the Rio Grande last week and are now driving in Esco, your all FOOLS!

really? wrote on Feb 19, 2008 9:47 AM:My point.....I am surprised that they actually got that many people with the oppurtunity to take an alternate route. I think doing this check on a holiday was a very wise thing. A different location would have seemed to be more effective. I am all for getting un-licensed drivers off the road.

to kidding me... wrote on Feb 19, 2008 10:13 AM:trust me. They were not white tweakers...we all know who the unlicensed / uninsured drivers were. Were you one of them?

Karl wrote on Feb 19, 2008 10:59 AM:To "Kidding me wrote on Feb 19, 2008 9:27 AM" White, brown, black, purple, tweakers and drunks, bring them all on. The EPD are equal opportunity busters.

How about CAR safety? wrote on Feb 19, 2008 11:08 AM:Good job on checking for licenses; I assume they just didn't 'forget' and leave the license home? Could you also impound cars with broken windshields, all tinted windows, BALD tires, scary clunky noises like maybe the tranny is about to fall out? How about brakes that obviously are faulty? These cars KILL even if the driver is licensed and sober. Defensive driving doesn't work any more as there is no defense against these wobbly landscapers' pick ups with lawn movers hanging over the sides, cars that are scotch taped together, and ones where the driver is on the cell phone while eating and drinking too. Only defense is to hope you are not in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sadly, some have no choice as there is no convenient public transportation.

Nate wrote on Feb 19, 2008 1:50 PM:Good job Escondido. Keep up the good work. It is okay to follow the law people. Unless you prefer chaos.

John E wrote on Feb 19, 2008 2:02 PM:Unlicensed motorists, particularly those driving on suspended or revoked licenses, are a major public safety menace. I applaud the checkpoints and the impounding of the associated vehicles.

to syl wrote on Feb 19, 2008 2:17 PM:you know they do have meds to treat your anger toward the world.take a deep breath and release deep breath and rlease. every thing is going to be all right.

EPD wrote on Feb 19, 2008 4:32 PM:They give out citations and impound cars for no license and insurance to more whites than all other ethnic groups together. More DUI cases as well. Sorry to pop your bubble's.

I always feel like wrote on Feb 19, 2008 4:55 PM:Singing this song: "I always feel like...Big Brothers...watching me". I wonder if these checkpoints have anything to do with sales tax revenue going down (besides the obvious recession). I mean how many people from RB or SM or Temecula or Poway or wherever...how many do you think are jonesing for a little shopping in the checkpoint capital of the county?

to EPD 4:32 wrote on Feb 19, 2008 5:12 PM:Yeah right!!!! You are very funny and a liar whoever you are.

Bill wrote on Feb 19, 2008 6:06 PM:To EPD 4:32pm I quite doubt your statistics, but hey if any race creed color or origin is breaking the law get them off the streets. I for one am tired of law breaking people.

Karl wrote on Feb 19, 2008 7:30 PM:To "EPD wrote on Feb 19, 2008 4:32 PM" Again I say I don't care if they are white, brown, black, purple, drunk, high on crack, shopping from RB, Temecula, RB, SM, or Poway. EPD is an equal opportunity buster. If you break the law, you deserve to be busted!!!!!!!

To EPD wrote on Feb 19, 2008 8:41 PM:You are too funny. If what you suggest was even remotely true, then why is Bill Flores of El Grupo, and a host of other Illegal Alien activists making such a fuss over these checkpoints. Thanks for the laugh, but we all know the truth. http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/08/04/news/top_stories/1_04_248_3_07.txt

bryan wrote on Feb 19, 2008 8:46 PM:It doesnt matter. The three remaining presidential candidates (hillary,obama,McCain the author of the amnesty bill) all want amnesty for the 20-30 million illegals. Its a loose loose situation. All three are funded by George Soros the liberal anti-american globalist.

Todd wrote on Feb 19, 2008 10:45 PM:Keep it up EPD, you have my support!! I agree with syl 100%, start inforcing the law...

localWriter wrote on Feb 19, 2008 11:40 PM:What a waste of time and money and law enforcement resources. I wish as much effort were put into the serious crime in the city instead of stacking up dime and nickel citations.

To local writer wrote on Feb 19, 2008 11:50 PM:You wouldn't be saying that if a non license/insurance driver hit you or a loved one. I acually drove thru that check point and they conducted it in the morning when crime is relitively low. I personally support these check points and it got 16 ... non licence/insurance drivers off the streets that I have to worry about.

The Poor Immigrant Families wrote on Feb 20, 2008 10:28 AM:Bill Flores, a retired San Diego County assistant sheriff and spokesman for El Grupo, a coalition of area activist groups, said Friday that the checkpoints disproportionately affect poor and Latino drivers because they sometimes can't afford to maintain their vehicles or because illegal immigrants, many of whom are Latino, aren't allowed to have driver's licenses under California law.

This, in turn, sours the Police Department's relationship with the Latino community, he said. http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/08/04/news/top_stories/1_04_248_3_07.txt

MVet wrote on Feb 20, 2008 11:34 AM:Like a previous poster mentioned, I am surprised that Bill Flores was ever in Law Enforcement. I thought their job was to uphold the law without bias to race creed or color. I hope the new generation of policemen doesn’t think like he does. There are no exemptions for poor people, and there are definitely no exemptions for poor people who do not have a driver's license, and there are really no exemptions for Illegal Aliens who should not even be here in the first place. Geesh I am shocked that this is even an issue.

The City Of Maywood, California wrote on Feb 20, 2008 11:44 AM:The City Of Maywood, California has disbanded their Traffic Enforcement division of their local police department, due to the proliferation of unlicensed drivers in their city. Does anyone here, care to move there? LOL I did not think so.

Skip wrote on Feb 20, 2008 3:06 PM:OK, just for a moment, let's say that the State of California decided to give driver's licenses to Illegal Aliens. Now, what insurance company in their right minds would sell insurance to them, and if they did at what price? Does anyone actually think that Illegal Aliens would qualify for insurance at a price as low as Americans? Then you have another problem. Since uneducated and underemployed people make less money, how would they ever be able to afford to buy insurance, and will they check the box on the form that says "ILLEGAL ALIEN"?
Keep up the check points. It does not matter how many cars are impounded, the unlicensed drivers will eventually get the message. If we cave now, then we might as well give up. Remember this is about public safety and the uninsured.
A person’s race or legal status is not at issue here. NO LICENSE AND NO INSURANCE EQUALS NO DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE. Period, End of Story.

IT GETS EVEN BETTER wrote on Feb 21, 2008 12:38 PM:On February 20, 2008, the Escondido Police Department and the San Diego County Probation DUI team conducted a court sting operation at the Vista Court facility. The purpose of this detail was to detect and arrest drivers who were seen driving away from the Court in violation of their felony DUI probation status.

http://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/police/news/releases/02-20-08.pdf

TO: IT GETS EVEN BETTER wrote on Feb 21, 2008 1:58 PM:12 more cars impounded, and the 6 worst offenders locked up in jail on no-bail parole violations. IT DOES NOT GET ANY BETTER. Think they will get the message? No License = No Driving!

bryan wrote on Feb 22, 2008 9:34 PM:Just wait until after the presidential elections and everyone will get free driver licenses. No human being will be considered illegal.

All Over America wrote on Feb 23, 2008 11:53 AM:In Minnesota, drivers without valid licenses were twice as likely to be involved in a fatal or serious-injury crash than drivers with valid licenses from 2004 to 2006, according to the Department of Public Safety. In all crashes in the state during that period, 4 percent of the drivers involved didn't have a valid license. In Cottonwood, Minn., and St. Paul this week, crashes involving drivers without valid licenses killed five people. SOURCE: TwinCities News

REQUIRED READING FOR ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE DOUBTS wrote on Feb 23, 2008 12:07 PM:Driver of van that hit Minn. school bus charged with homicide in crash that killed 4 children

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/02/23/news/nation/15_38_432_22_08.txt

susie b. wrote on Feb 29, 2008 7:51 PM:Please help, 02/21/2008 , The police had one of this check points at El Cajon Courthouse. He ask to see my license , which I glady showed him. Now, unfortunately I have 5 vehicles.All are current with DMV, and insured. The policeperson informed me that my driver's license expired last month." I'm sorry ,I didn't recieve my notice renwal..I'll take care of it immediately." "NO, step out of the car ,it's being impounded." "But, I just had out patient procedure yesterday ", 57yr.old 99 lb. female, haven't had a traffic ticket in 30 yrs.." Could my husband come and drive me home?" " Not, in this car .It's being impounded." "Get out of the car,now." Could I have AAA tow it ,so it won't cost me?"No." Same day, my husband paid 87.00 to La mesa PD, 297.00 to tow 1.11miles to tow yard. Plus I still have ticket to pay. My husband 65yrs is on S.S. retired Air Force. I'm responible to renew my license on time,but that reminder from the DMV really helps. How often do people look to see when drivers license expires, This was so unfair, I'm .... blown away! Susan P.S. Called the tow company next day, said I needed a car towed about a mile, how much? 50.00 and 6.00 per mile What is wrong with this picture.

Mark wrote on Mar 10, 2008 10:57 AM:If only the Oceanside Police would follow the example set by the EPD, North County San Diego would be a much better, and safer place to live. Just look at the drive in swap meet parking lot on any Sunday!!! I've counted as many as 13 expired registrations in a single row. Hundreds of cars are in the lots every weekend, and no doubt a large majority driven there without insurance or valid drivers licenses. Is it too much to ask for "our" police department to enforce the laws of this state??

Escondido Driver wrote on Mar 15, 2008 4:33 AM:I had my car hit by an unlicensed/uninsured driver months ago she was not ticketed nor was her car impounded. If that wasn't bad enough i had to pay 3,000 to get my car repaired. Took her to court and a year later still no money, anyone see a problem with that?

Keep up the good work EPD wrote on Aug 12, 2008 5:23 PM:Now if we could only get EDWARD SIFUENTES on board with the program. Who's allowing this guy to write such garbage in the NC Times anyway?

He writes about EPD conducting the check points in order to create revenue for the city -- ha. Let's think about where all that money is going. How about its supporting the money sucking Center for the Arts and not the officer's wallets.

EPD is doing a damn fine job. I wait in the hour long line at the DMV office and pay my fees just like every other law abiding citizen. Those who fail to take care of their affairs should be held accountable.

Someone else mentioned EPD should devote their efforts to more serious crimes. I'm pretty sure that statistic would reveal the pool of folks driving around drunk, unlicensed, and uninsured are the folks out committing the "more serious" crimes.