Dallas Police Improperly Cite Drivers for Not Speaking English - Polidicks

[QUOTE]DALLAS — Dallas police officers have improperly cited drivers for not being able to speak English 38 times in the past three years, Chief David Kunkle said Friday. The discovery came after a woman was pulled over earlier this month for making an illegal U-turn and was given a ticket for being a "non-English speaking driver." The police chief said the citations are disappointing for Dallas, a city where the Latinos make up 44 percent of the more than 1 million residents and nearly 45 percent speak a language other than English. "I was I guess surprised and stunned," Kunkle said. "We area very diverse community." Kunkle said his department's computer system for citations has a pull-down menu that includes a law requiring drivers of commercial vehicles to speak English. The chief said he believes the federal law was misapplied to local drivers of private vehicles. At least six officers wrote the citations, including one who wrote five of them, Kunkle said at a news conference. The officers and their commanders are under investigation, and Dallas police also plan to look beyond the last three years to see if other citations turn up, Kunkle said. On Oct. 2, Ernestina Mondragon was pulled over by Officer Gary Bromley, a rookie who was still under supervised training. He gave her a ticket for not speaking English along with citing her for making an illegal U-turn and failing to carry her drivers license. "I wanted to tell him," Mondragon told The Associated Press in Spanish on Friday. "I couldn't talk back to him out of respect." Mondragon was driving her 11-year-old daughter to school when Bromley stopped her. She had forgotten her purse with her license in it while darting out the door that morning after her daughter missed the school bus. "I felt humiliated. Sad," she said. "I wanted to cry but I couldn't. The anger wouldn't let me." During the exchange between her and the officer, Mondragon said she used the limited English words and phrases she knows. "He asked me if I spoke English. I said I speak a little and understand it," she said. Mondragon said court staffers seemed puzzled by the charge. The court ultimately dismissed the "non-English" ticket and driver's license citation after Mondragon presented her license. Kunkle said the outcome of the other 37 no-English citations is unclear. Mondragon was surprised to hear others had been cited and said she's glad she said something so it can stop. She and her family are considering a lawsuit. From now on Dallas police will not give commercial drivers tickets for being unable to speak English, Kunkle added, saying that was a job for other law enforcement agencies. As part of their training, future police officers hear from various groups representing Dallas minority and refugee communities, Kunkle said. Texas also offers the written portion for a regular driver's license in Spanish, said Department of Public Safety spokesman Tom Vinger. [/QUOTE] Source: [url]http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,569379,00.html?test=latestnews[/url] Here in America we speak English. But it's [i]not[/i] the law.

"License and registration please..." "Que?" "Ticket"

No, it's not the law, genius.

You know, immigrants can sort of take the effort to speak English better, it is the official language. It sort of, you know, can help the police do their jobs better.

The charge there is ridiculous. She is capable of speaking it. If you pull some one over and they don't speak a word of English, and can't produce ID or a drivers license and so on then there might be a reason to fine them.

[QUOTE=Madman_Andre;18001698]You know, immigrants can sort of take the effort to speak English better, it is the official language. It sort of, you know, can help the police do their jobs better.[/QUOTE] Well it isn't the official language since America has none, but english is the most commonly spoken. Official or otherwise when you want to go and live in another country a little initiative to learn the local language is in order. At least if you plan to drive, otherwise how are you going to read the road signs?

[QUOTE=Bean-O;18001783]Well it isn't the official language since America has none, but english is the most commonly spoken. Official or otherwise when you want to go and live in another country a little initiative to learn the local language is in order. At least if you plan to drive, otherwise how are you going to read the road signs?[/QUOTE] I do not speak a word of Spanish, however, I would probably know to stop at this sign. [IMG]http://k41.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/73647726.beOJaBtF.CaboJan07075.jpg[/IMG]

While it would be nice and should be expected that immigrants be given the opportunity to be tought English, or that they seek to learn it themselves, not speaking it is not a crime, nor is there any official language.

Well of course it was not necessary at all. It isn't law. That cop must get himself straightened up.

You can't fine someone for being a non-english driver.. But I understand why the fine was given. Lack of communication makes the cops job harder. But to an extent I agree that it was an unfair charge.

English isn't the official language of the US, but it is for Alabama (1990), Alaska (1998), Arizona (2006), Arkansas (1987), California (1986), Colorado (1988), Florida (1988), Georgia (1986, 1996), Hawaii (1978), Idaho (2007), Illinois (1969), Indiana (1984), Iowa (2002), Kansas (2007), Kentucky (1984), Louisiana (1807), Massachusetts (1975), Mississippi (1987), Missouri (1998), Montana (1995), Nebraska (1920), New Hampshire (1995), North Carolina (1987), North Dakota (1987), South Carolina (1987), South Dakota (1987), Tennessee (1984), Utah (2000), Virginia (1981, 1996), and Wyoming (1996). Notice how Texas isn't in there.

What the hell is Kansas' problem, we waited all the way up until 2007?

[QUOTE=Daolpu;18001941]What the hell is Kansas' problem, we waited all the way up until 2007?[/QUOTE] Because there isn't anyone in Kansas to speak any language.

[QUOTE=Daolpu;18001818]I do not speak a word of Spanish, however, I would probably know to stop at this sign. [IMG]http://k41.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/73647726.beOJaBtF.CaboJan07075.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] No, I'm talking more along the lines of signs indicating road conditions, directions, specific instructions. Stuff like that.

[QUOTE=Bean-O;18001973]No, I'm talking more along the lines of signs indicating road conditions, directions, specific instructions. Stuff like that.[/QUOTE] I understand what you mean, there may be some specific signs that they could have trouble reading, but think about it for a moment. Most signs are all visual, and any wording is mostly names. Emergency cones and construction signs are all arrows and graphics, with the most words being "slow" or "stop", both of which have identifiable shapes and are easy to learn words. [editline]12:23AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;18001963]Because there isn't anyone in Kansas to speak any language.[/QUOTE] What are you talking about we have like 35 people

[QUOTE=Daolpu;18002023] What are you talking about we have like 35 people[/QUOTE] Oh damn, when did this happen?

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;18002058]Oh damn, when did this happen?[/QUOTE] Quick make a In the News thread about it.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;18002058]Oh damn, when did this happen?[/QUOTE] Neighbors are having the cousins over for dinner. We'll be back to normal by tomorrow.

[QUOTE=Daolpu;18002080]Neighbors are having the cousins over for dinner. We'll be back to normal by tomorrow.[/QUOTE] Careful now, too many people would imbalance the state's economy.

[QUOTE=Madman_Andre;18001698]You know, immigrants can sort of take the effort to speak English better, it is the official language. It sort of, you know, can help the police do their jobs better.[/QUOTE] There is no official language in the US.

[QUOTE=Kybalt;18002070]Quick make a In the News thread about it.[/QUOTE] Working on it!

I think if they want to live here, they should know the language. What's the cop supposed to do? He can't communicate with them, and calling a translator for every traffic stop would be expensive and time consuming.

Esto es indignante. ¡Exijo hablar con mi abogado!

[QUOTE=TH89;18002271]Esto es indignante. ¡Exijo hablar con mi abogado![/QUOTE] You should ban yourself for speaking spanish on an english forum.

I should ban you for being a bad poster

He's drunk with power.

[QUOTE=TH89;18002372]I should ban you for being a bad poster[/QUOTE] Agreed

Suddenly bans, thousands of them.

I fucking hate Mexicans who can't speak any english. I am a cashier at a grocery store and I get people like this all the time and because I can't understand them they get all mad at me. I AM FUCKING AMERICAN I SPEAK MY NATIVE LANGUAGE I AM SORRY THAT YOUR TOO FUCKING LAZY TO LEARN HOW TO SPEAK SOME BASIC FUCKING ENGLISH WHILE YOU WHERE JUMPING OVER THE FUCKING BORDER! Off topic I mean in order to become a US citizen you have to be able to speak ENGLISH during your interview! So how the hell do these people get here? Hmmmmmm Oh and they fucking come here and utilize things like food stamps and WIC checks, who pays for those...me and you my friend. Come to America illegally, have a child who INSTANTLY becomes an American citizen then take advantage of a system that they don't have to pay for so they can raise their newly born fetus. Fuck I hate this world /rant

[QUOTE=Adius Shadow;18002902]I fucking hate Mexicans who can't speak any english. I am a cashier at a grocery store and I get people like this all the time and because I can't understand them they get all mad at me. I AM FUCKING AMERICAN I SPEAK MY NATIVE LANGUAGE I AM SORRY THAT YOUR TOO FUCKING LAZY TO LEARN HOW TO SPEAK SOME BASIC FUCKING ENGLISH WHILE YOU WHERE JUMPING OVER THE FUCKING BORDER! Off topic I mean in order to become a US citizen you have to be able to speak ENGLISH during your interview! So how the hell do these people get here? Hmmmmmm Oh and they fucking come here and utilize things like food stamps and WIC checks, who pays for those...me and you my friend. Come to America illegally, have a child who INSTANTLY becomes an American citizen then take advantage of a system that they don't have to pay for so they can raise their newly born fetus. Fuck I hate this world /rant[/QUOTE] Sorry man, sounds like you've had a rough go of it :(