Feds look to tighten English law for truckers

[pampango]

Source: AP

"An Alabama state trooper thought Castillo, 50, couldn't speak English well enough to drive an 18-wheeler when he was headed back to California from picking up onions in Glennville, Ga. A driver for 20 years, Castillo was stopped in west Alabama for a routine inspection.

Castillo, who says he speaks English at roughly a third-grade level, said he understood when the trooper asked him where he was heading and to see his commercial driver's license and registration. He said he responded in English, though he speaks with an accent.

Castillo wasn't speeding, and the inspection and computer check turned up no offenses, so he was surprised to get a ticket for being a "non-English speaking driver."

Castillo, a permanent U.S. resident who lives in a farming community near Fresno, said he took his California license test in Spanish because it's the language he's most comfortable speaking."

Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5heXu0lGoMzeUdAXkFGn45kpIUphwD91VJ11G0

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Wow, a $500 ticket to a truck driver who was not breaking traffic laws and whose truck passed inspection, because he is a "non-English speaking driver" (thought he's a legal resident driving a US registered truck), in this case meaning an Alabama state trooper couldn't understand his accent. This sounds like a real cash bonanza for cash-strapped state governments - officer says he can't understand your accent, $500 ticket even though everything else is in order.

Most out-of-state truck drivers aren't going to lose work time and drive great distances to fight a $500 ticket, even though the ticket is based on the subjective judgment of one officer. Sounds like the "English-only" crowd should be happy with this turn of events.

[liberal N proud]

1. This belongs in the News of the Bazaar section

[mac56]

2. "he speaks English at roughly a third-grade level..."

Lots of very capable people, doing lots of jobs successfully, who could say that about themselves.

[awoke_in_2003]

3. If only our president

could speak English at a third grade level.

[LeftinOH]

4. State troopers are qualified to make language competency assessments???

What a bunch of crap.

[gratuitous]

7. Papers, please

Hmmm, you used the word "crap," when you really meant to say "nonsense," in my estimation. I deem your grasp of English insufficient, so here's a citation.

Nope, I don't see any potential for abuse here. Seems like a just and orderly system for running our country.

[flashl]

5. Conflicting or different market forces?

U.S., Canada, and Mexico establishes 'enhanced' licenses agreement

More border states plan to ease travel with enhanced licenses

A growing number of states on the borders with Canada and Mexico are establishing or considering enhanced driver's licenses designed to give residents a more convenient identification option for border crossings.

[pampango]

6. That is interesting. Hadn't heard of it.

My impression is that many border states (north and south) are trying to ease and enhance cross border driving, while the federal government is responding to anti-immigrant sentiment to pass laws against "non-English speaking" (meaning "I can't understand your accent?)" truck drivers. Something tells me that these federal laws will not be enforced in border states, but rather in the South and Midwest.

[BryMan]

8. Scares the shit out of me...

To know the guy had been driving for 20 years and barely can speak English. Anyone thought about if he can read it better than 3rd grade level? Last I checked the traffic signs are printed in English in this country and I drive here too, this is a safety issue for everyone not a bash Alabama thread since he was headed back across the country and more than a few other states along the way.

[mac56]

10. Are you serious?!

Wow. Just wow.

[BryMan]

11. Yes

[mac56]

17. I've met more than a few home grown U S of A high school graduates

who can only read and speak English at a third grade level.

But nobody's pulling THEM over on the highways. Nobody's doing a "field assessment" of THEIR English skills, or slapping THEIR asses with $500 fines.

Wonder why?!

[pampango]

12. Not meant to bash Alabama. I live in Ohio and I could easily see our troopers

citing Hispanic drivers, who are otherwise doing nothing wrong, for their accents (must mean they can't speak English). At $500 a pop and no practical way for the driver to contest it, it free money for the state.

The officer doesn't even have to do any kind of a test, like with at DUI citation, just arrive at any conclusion they want. (It would have been nice if the officer could have administered a test of common highway signs to see it the driver could understand them or not.)

If this driver has been driving here for 20 years and doesn't know what "stop", "yield" and "55 mph" mean then he is indeed a threat. I've driven in Mexico, Spain, France and the Philippines and I didn't have any trouble figuring out their highway signs. (My high school French and Spanish to the rescue.) And I'm sure that my French and Spanish reading level is not up to the third grade level.

Are we entering an era where a California drivers license is only good in Ohio and Alabama if the local troopers say it is? Why bother to get a license in one state if the other states are not going to accept it?

Of course, all drivers should show that they understand the meaning of highway signs before they are given a license, whether they are Hispanic immigrants or good ol' Americans. Just because a trooper doesn't like your accent or choice of words is not proof that you don't deserve to drive.

[mac56]

15. Interstate Commerce Clause?

"Why bother to get a license in one state if the other states are not going to accept it?"

Probably not constitutional.

[LeftyMom]

16. It doesn't take a third grade level to read traffic signs

He had to demonstrate an understanding of traffic signs to pass the basic California driving test. There was probably more testing on those (including signs specific to truckers- weigh stations, grade warnings, etc) on his truck driving exam.

For that matter, with the exception of road names, most signs are designed to be understood by people who are illiterate in English or nearly so, and use visuals, distinctive shapes, etc.

[The Doctor.]

18. Third-grade level is enough to operate a truck, read road signs, and function in our society.

I'm one of the 'If you even visit there, learn the language', let alone live or work there.

There's nothing 'scary' about this driver. He speaks poor English, but he speaks it. That's fair enough.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[SteelPenguin]

21. My 3 year old understands street signs

They're intentionally made to be obvious, and the guy passed his drivers test anyways. He speaks english at at third grade level but that doesn't mean he's a moron.

You think if you drove around France for 20 years you'd pick up more of the language from looking at the road signs?

Come on.

[OKthatsIT]

23. I got stopped for speeding

...took off my seat belt to reach the glove compartment to get out the registration and license out of my purse...My husband had 8yrs of registrations in the glove compartment...and I was having trouble finding the right year.

He comes up to the window, wants the 'papers' and I am shufffling through old registrations(less than 1 min encounter)...The Trooper takes my license and walks back to his car, while I find the Reg. I find it within 30 seconds and wave it out the window.

He was checking the database for 10 minutes. Then he hands me a ticket and tells me to drive slower and walks away.

He gave me a ticket:
Not wearing a seat belt. $50.00
Head Injury Contribution $50.00 (forced charity payment)
Speeding $100.00
Not having Reg, ready $ 50.00

Well, needless to say...I was pissed. I fought it in court and won.

[rms013]

9. English

I think it would be fair justice for a CHP to pull over an Alabama Trucker and give him a ticket for not being able to speak English. After all it is subjective and they do have that funny drawl down there (ha ha).

[pampango]

14. Especially if a local trooper pulled the Alabama trucker over in say Boston.

See if the locals don't think you have a bit of an accent. ;)

[OKthatsIT]

24. ROLOL

I got that one!

- Bostonian

[One_Life_To_Give]

13. HazMat Carrier I would understand

A HazMat driver needs to be able to read and comprehend what is on the manifest etc. for whatever materials they may be hauling. But for Onions?

[The Doctor.]

19. Well, there are other ways to make tear gas...

:cry:

[fascisthunter]

22. what right wing nazi shit is this?

"papers pleeze.....!"

[Toucano]

25. The trooper should have to ride in a taxi in Manhattan. LOL!

Russians are my favorites, but I also love the Senegalese accent.

[Toucano]

26. $12,615,000 annual revenue generator, according to the article. n-t