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Dallas police ticketed 39 drivers in 3 years for not speaking English...

By
Real Estate Agent 0574070

How to Say, "You're Being Ticketed for Not Speaking English" in Spanish? 

As a native Texas, I've heard my fair share on the subject, but this is unreal!  I, personally learned the Spanish language to help educate those that want to learn English, and by my experience, most Spanish speaking individuals who live in the US, truly want to learn the language AND I love to travel to Mexico! ;)!  I will try my hardest, not to get in a war of words based on my beliefs on the subject and hard working, law abiding hispanic citizens.

That being said...here it goes...

"Dallas police wrongly ticketed at least 39 drivers for not speaking English over the last three years, Police Chief David Kunkle announced Friday while promising to investigate all officers involved in the cases for dereliction of duty.

"The case that led to the discovery of all the others occurred Oct. 2, when Ernestina Mondragon was stopped for making an illegal U-turn in the White Rock area. Rookie Officer Gary Bromley cited Mondragon for three violations: disregarding a traffic control device, failure to present a driver's license and "non-English speaking driver."

Attorney Domingo Garcia said he has been hired to represent the Mondragon family.  "The issue has nothing to do with whether people should learn English or not. I believe they should," Garcia said. "It's about not following the law and issuing citations against a law that doesn't exist, against a fairly voiceless and helpless population." Beyond potential legal problems, some said the tickets send a troubling message to Hispanics.

"It's the principle of the matter that there are police officers out there representing our city who actually think that it's a crime not to speak English," said Brenda Reyes, a political consultant and member of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Kunkle, who apologized repeatedly, said he recognized the incidents probably would damage the department's relationship with the Hispanic community.

"When we deal with crime victims ... our interest is not their immigration status," Kunkle said. "It's not something that we concern ourselves about. We want to serve all people."

Source: Dallas News

Posted by

Jennifer A. Martin, REALTOR® 

Bancroft Realty, LLC 

Direct: (469)-450-2129

Jenniferamartin777@gmail.com

 

Comments(9)

Bridget Cella
Re/Max Connection - Sewell, NJ
e-Pro, Realtor

unreal - didn't realize it was the law to have to speak English, is it?

Oct 25, 2009 07:23 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

How can you get a ticket for violating a law that doesn't exist??? That is beyond nuts. 

Oct 25, 2009 07:24 AM
Jennifer A. Martin
Dallas, TX
Executive Assistant

Bridget and Tammy - EXACTLY!!!!

Oct 25, 2009 07:30 AM
John Rakoci
Eagle Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC
North Myrtle Beach Coastal Carolinas

There should be a law stating if you canot speak English you cannot get a drivers license. In many cases in some areas a large percentage of those that do not speak English have no license or insurance.

Oct 25, 2009 07:30 AM
Nick T Pappas
Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL
Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

I also think you need to speak and read English in order to get a drivers license.  The flip side is all the Americans traveling to other countries that don't speak their language and are renting or leasing cars.

Oct 25, 2009 08:14 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

It's not a matter of whether or not we speak the native language, it's a matter of following the rules of the road. Imagine of the Indians that inhabited this continent arrested all of those foreigners that came in boats just because they didn't speak the native tongue. Ridiculous. I guess that means a little of their red necks are showing.

Oct 25, 2009 08:27 AM
Ellen Crawford
Maximum One Executive REALTORS® - Alpharetta, GA
Alpharetta Real Estate Agents & Alpharetta REALTOR

Interesting story and a great one to reflect on.  I often wonder how a drivers license can be obtained with out being able to read road signs.  It is sort of reminds me of the story about the Tower of Bable.  If there was a massive fire in a building and no one could read the word " FIRE EXIT"  what would happen?  What would happen if no one could look at a fire chart and understand the term..."You are here!"  The consequences could be very scary.

Oct 25, 2009 01:14 PM
Jennifer A. Martin
Dallas, TX
Executive Assistant

I agree that they should be cited for not having a license, and obviously didn't because she couldn't speak or read English, but being cited for not speaking English??? THAT isn't against the law.

Oct 26, 2009 03:35 AM
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

The media said she was embarrassed because she got the ticket, but not for not learning English after living here almost thirty years.  Go figure

Oct 27, 2009 06:36 AM