This is just nuts. As published in the Oakland Tribune, immigrant activists say police DUI checkpoints discriminate against those without licenses, particularly illegal aliens. What amazes me is that the Oakland police have actually stopped setting up these checkpoints purely because of these 'complaints'.

The checkpoints allow officers to check licenses and proof of insurance, and are an effective way to get drunken drivers off the roads, but the checkpoints also have caught dozens of illegal aliens who are obviously not licensed to drive, yet otherwise obey the law.

LOL! What part of 'illegal' do they not understand? If they happen to be illegal aliens, they are driving without a license or insurance as well, so what's the problem if they get caught? Since when does breaking one law make you automatically immune from other laws that every citizen of the USA has to adhere to? More from the article;

"These checkpoints make people's lives miserable, not make them safer," said Jesus Rodriguez of Oakland Community Organizations, which filed most of the complaints about the checkpoints.

Is this guy insane? Sorry buddy, but checkpoints aren't there to make life easier for those breaking the law and endangering others lives. Let's see how he feels about it when his family is wiped out by a drunk driver who would otherwise not have been on the roads. As far as uninsured drivers go, guess who ends up having to foot the bill if they get involved in an accident? Taxpayers - that means legal US citizens - the ones who also have to obey laws like having a license and insurance to drive, and not driving drunk.

The police apparently have stopped all checkpoints until they write up some new guidelines, so hey, if you live in Oakland and are drinking, I guess the message is to feel free to take a drive while you're at it because nobody is going to stop you, particularly if you're an illegal immigrant.

You might want to be sitting down for this next part. The new checkpoint guidelines, which are not final, may call for police to notify Latino community organizations of the time and location of coming checkpoints. Seriously. Now that is racial discrimination. Guess it pays to break the law huh?

While officers have some discretion, the cars of unlicensed drivers are usually towed. To get their cars back, owners must pay $125, plus any storage fees. That is a significant burden to many illegal immigrants, Rodriguez said.

Pretty simple - if you can't do the time / pay the fine, don't do the crime. Period. If a person is caught in any country illegally, they should be put on a plane and sent back to whatever country they came from at their expense - they're illegal immigrants, does nobody understand that? Of course if returning could endanger their life, that's a different story, which is why there's such a thing as political asylum, but that is not what we're talking about here. Grow some balls police Chief Richard Word, and tell this guy Rodriguez to go copulate with himself. If a legal citizen drives without a license or insurance, they have to pay fines and have their vehicle impounded, so why the hell should a felon be exempt? This is the most stupid thing I've heard so far this week (but heck, it's only Monday).