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American Immigrant: Por favor, Use el Cinturón de Seguridad |
American Immigrant: Please Wear your Seatbelt Valeria Calder-Pretto Not wearing your seat belt can result in your deportation. I say this because in the past month, I have had two separate clients who almost ended up in deportation proceedings because they were pulled over by the police for not wearing their seat belt. Once the police pulled them over, they requested their driver’s license, which my client’s did not have. As a result, they were placed under arrest for not having a valid driver’s license and they were booked into the county jail. At the county jail, immigration placed a hold on them, which means that even if they posted bond they could not get out of jail. Ultimately, their cases were resolved with them appearing in court and paying a fine. However, in the process they spent several days in jail, managed to worry their families, and were very close to deportation. My message is the following, wearing your seat belt is the right thing to do because it is the law. Beyond being required, wearing your seat belt significantly reduces the risk of being injured in an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, seat belts save 13,000 lives a year. Failure to wear your seat belt gives the police a perfectly “legal” reason to pull you over. From an immigration perspective, this is where the problems begin. Once pulled over for not wearing your seat belt, the officer can legally ask for your driver’s license. If you don’t have a valid driver’s license because of your immigration status, then chances are this will result in an arrest and an immigration hold once in the county jail. I have to say that the majority of people who find themselves in this situation are not as fortunate as my two clients. This is a very realistic scenario which can be avoided. In closing, if you don’t have a valid driver’s license you should not be driving. If you assume the risk of driving without a license, at a minimum follow the seat belt laws to ensure your safety and wellbeing. By wearing your seatbelt, you not only reduce the risk of injury but also decrease the likelihood of legal consequences. |