Only Foreign Nationals Legally Present in the U.S. Should Drive in Oregon
April 18, 2013
By David Olen Cross
The Oregon State Legislature should reject Senate Bill 833 that would grant some form of Oregon Driver License (ODL) to foreign nationals illegally present in the state (illegal aliens) under the pretence of the legislation being an issue of public safety.
In an annual report filed on January 1st of this year by Tom McClellan, DMV Administrator, (a report required by law since passage of Senate Bill 1080 in 2008 that required legal presence to obtain an ODL), he imparts “Four years after implementing a legal presence requirement in Oregon, changes in driver licensing requirements have not had a major impact on the rate of unlicensed and uninsured driving”.
In reality, prior to the passage of legal presence legislation in 2008, the issuing by the state of ODL to some illegal aliens didn’t seem to motivate them in name of public safety to obtain automobile insurance or in some cases even have a valid driver license. Here is short history of seven victims whose lives were extinguished violently and prematurely by illegal alien drivers who chose to drive their motor vehicles impaired and recklessly.
Judyth Anne Cox, a 66-year old wife, mother of two and grandmother of six, a resident of Newberg, was killed in Yamhill County on December 3, 2007 by Ignacio Merendon-Zerega, a Mexican national illegally in the state. Merendon-Zerega had six prior DUII, most occurring in Marion County, at the time he killed Mrs. Cox. He had no ODL or insurance.
Carma Colleen Smith, a 52-yeare old wife, mother of seven and grandmother of four, a resident of Dayton, was killed in Yamhill County on May 11, 2008 (Mothers Day) by Leonel Zurita-Loeza, a Mexican national illegally in the state. Zurita-Loeza was on a diversion for a previous DUII at the time he killed Mrs. Smith. He had an ODL but no insurance.
Justin Daniel Dougherty, 23-year old single father of one, was killed in Lane County on March 4, 2008 by Eduardo Gutierrez-Duarte, a Mexican national. Gutierrez-Duarte had a previous DUII in 2004. He had an ODL but no insurance.
Kay Blaser, a 26-year old mother of one, was killed in Clackamas County on October 12, 2008 by Fernando Deanda-Moreno, a Mexican national illegally in the state. Deanda-Moreno had no ODL or insurance.
Barbara Jean Bier, a 52-year old wife, mother of seven and grandmother of five, was killed in Polk County on November 21, 2008 by Martin Martinez-Aguilar who had an ODL but no insurance.
Albert Lloyd Rowland, a 53-year old homeless man, was killed in Multnomah County on May 13, 2010 by Mexican national Alvaro Lugos-Ponce. He had no ODL or insurance.
John Zupan (founder of Zupan’s Markets), a 66-year old father of two, was killed in Multnomah County on August 30, 2011 by Edy Porfirio Reynoso-Ramirez, a Mexican national illegally in the state. He had no ODL or insurance.
Fortunately for Oregonians, for the time being, the ODL of the previously mentioned illegal aliens (whose driver license were issued prior to 2008’s SB1080) involved in fatal driving accidents have been revoked or suspended. But their criminal driving history may not prevent them from driving again in the state.
Particularly problematic with SB 833 is the legislation could allow some of the pre-mentioned killers to use a Mexican matricula consular card to re-obtain a valid ODL.
If past history is any indicator of human behavior, SB 833 is legislation that could once again open up Oregon’s freeways, highways, roads and streets to the slaughter of its citizens by foreign nationals illegally present in the state.
The Oregon families and friends of the seven victims mention above have suffered enough carnage and grief at the hands of illegal alien drivers.
It is really unconscionable that any state senator or representative would be willing to sponsor or support such irresponsible and dangerous legislation like SB 833 under the guise of it being a public safety issue.
Oregonians should contact their state senator and representative and tell them to reject passage of SB 833 for the real long term public safety of all the state’s residents.
David Olen Cross (docfnc@yahoo.com) writes on the subjects of illegal immigration and foreign national crime.
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