A clumsy shot at immigration
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Denver Post: There's no doubt this country needs comprehensive immigration reform at the national level. But what we don't need is another back-door effort conscripting local authorities to take on immigration enforcement duties that ought to be handled by federal authorities. That's the apparent aim of a question Denver voters very well may see on their November ballot.
Initiative 300 concerns the mandatory impounding of cars whose drivers are not licensed. While we certainly do not want to see unlicensed drivers on the roads, the proposed ballot initiative is a blunt instrument that would burden local police and the city budget. We urge Denver voters, who may see this question on their November mail-in ballot, to reject it. We say that voters "may" see it because the validity of the signature- gathering process is being challenged in court, so there is uncertainty about whether it actually will make it to voters.
However, given that Denver voters will get their mail-in ballots well in advance of the Nov. 3 election, we think it's important to have a robust public discussion of the matter early. The impound question would take away the discretion of law enforcement to decide whether it's better for an officer to sit with a car driven by an unlicensed driver and wait for a tow truck, or say, chase an armed robber or something else more serious. It is an ill-advised attempt to dictate law enforcement by ballot initiative. It is a second bite of the apple for a group that last year was successful in convincing Denver voters to approve an impound question. The initiative directed police to impound cars of unlicensed drivers and charge a $2,500 impound bond.
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