Associates of the American Civil Liberties Union are issuing travel alerts for anyone heading to Arizona for this coming fourth of July holiday weekend. This is the most recent effort made by this group to denounce the state’s new immigration law.

Under the condition of the law police are allowed to inquire any person that is a suspect for a crime.

“Although the law is not scheduled to go into effect until July 29, the ACLU is concerned that some law enforcement officers are already beginning to act on provisions of the law,” is posted on the ACLU website.

“We hope the alerts provide people with some measure of protection from illegal harassment from law enforcement and inform them of their rights should they encounter it.”

The warning that is being broadcasted by ACLU associates from distances as far as Alaska and New York alert people of their merits if questioned by police in Arizona.
Commentators on this new law feel that it will lead to racial profiling by police which will cause police to distrust Latinos in Arizona. There have been large groups that have shown their opposition to this law by having protests and boycotts targeting Arizona.

Because of the increasing number of people illegally crossing the border from Mexico, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and other state officials feel that the law is necessary. According to Brewer the law is not preying on any persons particular background.

“It wouldn’t matter if you are Latino or Hispanic or Norwegian,” she said last month. “If you didn’t have proof of citizenship and the police officer had reasonable suspicion, he would ask and verify your citizenship. I mean, that’s the way that it is. That’s what the federal law says. And that’s what the law in Arizona says”.

On a poll conducted by CNN/Opinion Research Corp in late may it was concluded that 57 percent of people surveyed were in favor of Arizona’s new law, while 37 percent were against it.

In that same poll it was concluded that six out of 10 respondents felt that the federal government should be more pro-active on preventing illegal aliens from crossing in the U.S. border. They also felt that those already here should be deported. 

Arizona offers beautiful weather, landscapes and sunsets, but distracting some Arizonans from those gifts are the dangerous roads and driving environments.

A combination of less than ideal road conditions and design, traffic density, irresponsible driving and pedestrian habits resulted in 23,698 Arizona car accidents last year. While that number is the lowest it’s been since 2000, Arizona still has significant room for improvement.

Nationwide, Arizona had the 13th highest amount of traffic fatalities in 2008. In 2006, an average of 3 people died on Arizona roads every day, and in Phoenix alone, 540 pedestrians were injured and 51 killed.

To avoid accidents and injury, both Arizona drivers and pedestrians need to be proactive and speak out. If someone has complaints of the road conditions of a specific location, they should report them to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT).

Roads and their conditions are variable. The best bet to ensure road safety is for drivers and pedestrians to know and follow the laws of the road, an option that is always in their control. When roads are noticeably damaged or the weather and time of day worsen driving conditions, more caution should be used than usual and in-car distractions reduced as much as possible.

Arizona government and organizations have taken notice of the road dangers and are working towards positive change. For example, the Governor’s Traffic Safety Advisory Council supports the Arizona Strategic Highway Safety Plan. The project started in 2005 and aims to reduce the number of Arizona traffic fatalities. By the year 2012, its goal is to see a 12 percent drop in that number compared to 2007.

The AARP and the Institute of Transportation Engineers in Arizona collaborated in order to assess certain crowded and reportedly dangerous Phoenix intersections and roads. While their work considered the safety of a more focused group of seniors, the study’s focus on road accessibility and safety delivered findings that will help all Arizonans.

These projects are hopefully only a couple of the many future actions that will foster a safer road environment in Arizona and save lives on the road.

If you have been involved or injured in an accident due to poor road conditions and/or an irresponsible driver, contact an experienced personal injury attorney. A lawyer can evaluate your case and explain your legal options.

Article provided by Knapp & Roberts
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