Florida’s Cracking Down on Undocumented Drivers

Undocumented drivers are not only living in Florida illegally but also traveling on busy roads without valid licenses. This makes driving dangerous for everyone on the road.

A recent traffic stop in Punta Gorda, Charlotte County, shined a spotlight on Florida’s expanding crackdown on undocumented immigrants driving without proper documentation. State troopers pulled over 25-year-old Mexican national Alekandro Escobar for tailgating on I-75. Officers found that he had no valid driver’s license and was using a counterfeit tag. Escobar remains in custody at the county jail, held for possible deportation.

Escobar is just one of at least nine undocumented drivers arrested over a two-week period in Charlotte County for operating vehicles without a license. Florida’s Attorney General, James Uthmeier, emphasized that the issue extends well beyond isolated incidents. He estimates that hundreds of undocumented individuals are using fake or improperly obtained licenses or tags to drive across the state.

According to Uthmeier, these actions are dangerous and unlawful, and the state is committed to targeting not only the drivers but also those who manufacture and distribute fraudulent credentials. “We are a rule-of-law state,” he declared, adding that Florida will collaborate with federal authorities, including the Department of Homeland Security, to enforce these laws.

In a wider context, 19 U.S. states plus Washington, D.C. currently allow undocumented residents to obtain driver’s licenses. However, Florida, along with states like Tennessee and Wyoming, has moved to invalidate special licenses marked for undocumented immigrants or issued out-of-state, such as those from Connecticut and Delaware.

Critics say these measures aim to scare immigrant communities rather than enhance public safety, and they argue that enforcement remains uneven. Some undocumented individuals obtain licenses legally elsewhere to drive safely in their communities.

Are the Dangers Real?

Many people, particularly law enforcement officials and legislators, are concerned about illegal immigrants driving without license. Does their presence on the roadways impact other drivers?

It can. Studies have shown that unlicensed drivers are more likely to be involved in accidents. In fact, some research suggests they are nearly three times more likely to cause a fatal crash compared to licensed drivers.

Fear of deportation or other legal consequences may cause unlicensed immigrant drivers to flee the accident scene. This leads to worse outcomes for accident victims.

Then there are the legalities of the situation. Driving without a license is illegal and carries harsh penalties such as fines and jail time. For immigrants, driving without a license can have serious immigration consequences, potentially leading to deportation.

Contact Us Today

Whether you have never been issued a license, your license has been suspended, or it has expired, driving without a valid license can result in significant legal consequences in Florida.

A Fort Myers driving without a valid license attorney from Hollander & Hanuka can help you understand the charges you are facing and how best to address your situation. To schedule a consultation today, call (239) 332-3300 or fill out the online form.

Source:

gulfcoastnewsnow.com/article/florida-crackdown-illegal-immigrants-face-deportation-driving-without-licenses/65118913