What a terrifying experience for you, DH and your son!

I'd be willing to guess that your idea, "The only reasons I can imagine that the other driver left since my son would technically have been at fault is that the occupants of the car were here illegally or did not have the appropriate license or insurance required by law," is probably accurate.  This sees commonplace in poorer areas (I grew up in LA and worked in Watts), either because the people can't afford insurance or are undocumented.

I'm all for giving licenses to people regardless of their status, and allowing them to be insured as well.  Then, perhaps, situations like this could be avoided.

Hugs to you all!

I'm so glad your son is all right...its scary being the parent of young adults, isn't it?  When these type of incidence occur with my children, I like to tell myself that its all a life lesson...they're getting the opportunity to see for themselves why we take politics seriously.  

I essentially agree with Hillary Clinton on the drivers license issue.  Its a matter of public safety and its also a starting point in getting people to come out of the shadows so we can maybe glean a bit of reliable information about who's here, in what numbers, and where they're at.  We need this information to move forward in making policy.  

What a scary experience.

I agree with others here.  I think it is really short sighted not to give licenses to undocumented immigrants.  They are here and they are driving.  So we don't want them insured or licensed?  It makes no sense to me.

I was really ticked off about what Chris Dodd said in the debate on Monday about it... "A license is a privilege."  Tell that to people who have crashes with those who are unlicensed and thus uninsured.

I agree, although I keep thinking about this issue and it raises more questions than answers in my own mind.  I wonder if a program where licenses are given would inspire persons here illegally to obtain such a document...wouldn't they be afraid of being documented in this way because it might lead to deportation at some future point - perhaps not at time of licensing, but sometime down the road (no pun intended)?  

The other driver leaving may in fact have economically benefited us, which I feel bad about because even though the other driver did something that seemed to have been the cause of the accident, technically my son would have been at fault, so that the other vehicle could have been fixed by our insurance.

I can tell you that it took me almost two full days to feel normal in my own body after so much adrenaline and fear.  My mind seemed to have completely melted down so that the next day I literally felt empty-headed and like an emotional wreck.  So much of my worry was knowing he was waiting on the side of the road in the dark in a very dangerous area.  My mind went to places I would've hoped never to think about.  

When I hear his voice now I still get weak in the knees knowing he is not hurt and is safely back at school.  

You should have contacted me, as I am in the L.A. area and would have had NO PROBLEM helping a fellow MT!! So sorry your family had to go through this!!

Your theory as to why they left is a plausible one. What I have witnessed in areas that are primarily hispanic, are routine checkpoints, where if you look a certain way (HELLO RACIAL PROFILING!!) they'll pull you over and ask for drivers licence, registration and proof of insurance. Never mind that you didn't commit a moving violation. They set up this whole thing, where they have cones merging all lanes to one, a table with cops taking information, and a tow truck, for when they IMMEDIATELY impound your car if you speak Spanish and if you don't have what they're requesting.

It's really upsetting when they target people that way.

I just don't see the problem with offering them.  If driver licenses aren't eligible for use as proof of citizenship, then what's the problem?  Pretty simple to me.

Our immigration system is so screwy.  We should be happy to let more immigrants into our country.  I'm sure they're smarter than the US citizens who voted for Bush, repeatedly!

lining up for licenses.  I just think that while it may be a good idea to try and keep track of people here they aren't going to trust that the government isn't going to use it as a means to round them up.  

I lived here legally for years without an SSN - although I was able to transfer my Ontario license to a Texas one without an SSN but I would have been in a pickle if I had tried to get a license before getting an SSN even if here legally...I suppose.  

I just don't think that people who are here illegally are going to volunteer to be tracked.  They're frightened enough as it is.  

And I'm so sorry about your son and I hope he's feeling better.  

I think it's possible, but I also know of people who didn't want to deal with the hassles related to car accidents.  My chiropractor has been hit several times and never bothered to follow up -- not enough time.  I backed into a car in a parking lot at the Forum in Inglewood and left a note under the windshield and never heard a word.  

Some people know there's a lot of paperwork, phone calls, etc. involved with minor accidents and just choose to avoid all that.  

my heart raced just hearing about this. i would have been close to hysterical knowing my dd was sitting on the side of a freeway for 2 hours in the dark!

i support allowing DLs for illegal immigrants.  

(was away from Wednesday until Monday night).

So sorry to hear of your son's mishap. Thank god he wasn't physically hurt, although I'll bet he's still plenty stressed from the incident. Thank goodness that you were able to transfer money so easily and he was able to get home!

I agree with your interpretation, and also think licenses should be made available to undocumented workers. Yes, a license is a privilege, but if someone is willing to sit the test and can pass the test, much better for us all if they can get a license and get insurance. (I feel the same way about undocumented workers who take the time to pay taxes...)