Lan8r
Jedi Master
"Driving while Hispanic" Good one Freya. It happens a lot here too.
Teresa,
I meant no offense and was not really going for humor. I should have elaborated on that comment. Because in reality 'Driving while Human', in and of itself, is becoming suspicious behavior!
But, one thing I have observed is that we have a good sized Hispanic (Mexican) population here (where I grew up they targeted Cubans). Alot of whom do not have a driver's licences. They have come here to try to get work and they send alot of their money home to their families. They tend to live more communally (not considered normal in our society) and pool their funds. Often times there is one or two in the household with a DL and a vehicle or two that they have communally purchased.
Anyway, the chances of pulling over an Hispanic who does not have a DL are pretty good, so they are targeted. Ironically, there happens to be a good many Hispanic cops too who can be used to do this, thereby avoiding a 'language barrier' while making them feel more comfortable while being arrested. And maybe even avoid accusations of 'targeting'.
So, they get arrested, their amigos, standing by and prepared, bail them out. They communally pay the fines and the county and the court make out like bandits. It is a revolving, money grabbing door.
I give them Kudos. They do what they need to survive and, in a way you could say, 'network' for contingencies.
It used to be easier for them to get a licence here, back in Idiot Bush's day. I had thought that may have been used as a way to keep track of them. But now it is harder to get a licence here, even if you have had one for thirty something years. But, then again with the economy what it is, it may be that they just want to fill the coffers.