i would like to visit japan ... that is why i am learning japanese before i go... i mean it seems a bit redundant to say but ... why not learn the language before you go ... .tho i dont agree with the ticketing for it.

First, it was probably a mistake. Because there is a USDOT law for anyone with other than a regular license to speak/read English. So, if you have a CDL or Chauffeur License, by law you have to speak/read English.
Second, I am living and working in Puerto Rico, have been for the past 8 months. Out of respect for there culture I am learning Spanish. Not out of need, all the customers that I work with speak English, but out of respect.
Third, Is it not a legal requirement to speak English for Citizenship? I do believe that is true, but correct me if I am wrong.
Finally, They should have just arrested them for being illegals and deported them. But that was too much paperwork. So, just like the nice Cop who reduces your speeding ticket from 20 over to 5 over, they wrote them up for not speaking English and now the poor illegal immigrants are crying foul. Just a bunch of BS if you ask me.

Its a old joke on cops to play dumb and answer in a foreign language.

"i no speake enlish"

I have seen many spanish speakers and Asians do it just to mess with the cops minds and beat tickets.

I have also seen people from germany, france and even french Canadians do it to.

Many times the cops just give up trying to communicate and let the person go without a ticket.

Others have found that in court they can use this in criminal cases to invalidate anything the cops claim they said due to missunderstanding the language.

Not only do I like this story. I also support it. Also, the moral of the story is
DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS

Originally posted by ufoptics

Third, Is it not a legal requirement to speak English for Citizenship? I do believe that is true, but correct me if I am wrong.

In most countries, gaining citizenship requires making some kind of oath or pledge.
How can anyone possibly do that, if you cannot understand the language ?

You can go to almost any ethnic neighbor hood in the US and find 3rd gerneration people that were born in the US, that can't speak English.

South Florida

Chinatown LA, San francisco

Detroit, It sounds like English but I can understand it.

I wonder if the MOD will give me a red flag [ticket]for not speaking English?

Ola, dg, mi jita, puede ir al baile conmigo?

Originally posted by Silver Shadow
So how can someone that cannot speak, or read English possibly know the road rules, or read road signs ?

How did they even get a driving license in the first place ?

The DMV offers state manuals and test in English and Spanish.

Imagine that.

I love how you guys turned this into a debate about whether one should speak English or not. While I am of the opinion, as an Hispanic immigrant, that learning English is the proper way to go, what these tickets represent is a violation of the US Constitution.

You have the right to know what charges are being leveled at you. You have the right to due process of the law, and these 39 tickets represent 39 instances of the violation of probable cause, and the equal protection clause.

Regardless of what our opinions might be on whether these people should have learned English, it is important to understand the real issue, which is the violation of our rights. Contrary to opinion here on ATS the Law of the Land applies to all those living in the United States, and makes no mention of whether they're citizens or not. If the Supreme Law of the Land can be violated like this, when it comes to English speaking Citizens and legal residents, we should all expect that our rights will be trampled just the same.

I believe it is more important to look at this issue from a Constitutional standpoint than reactionary opinions and superlative reasoning.

[edit on 25-10-2009 by projectvxn]

Originally posted by dgtempe


I hope one of those giving tickets to Mexicans for descrimination, realize this little tidbit of information and knock the (bleep) off.

It's not about discriminating. It's about assimilating.

If you want to go live in another country who's primary language is not your own then you will be expected to learn it.

Why is it that anywhere on the planet it is common sense and decency to learn the language of the country you live in but in the States ...well... expecting someone to learn english is just evil and mean.

Originally posted by Silver Shadow

Originally posted by ufoptics

Third, Is it not a legal requirement to speak English for Citizenship? I do believe that is true, but correct me if I am wrong.

In most countries, gaining citizenship requires making some kind of oath or pledge.
How can anyone possibly do that, if you cannot understand the language ?

Most of them are in the states illegally.

The stupid cop was so moronic he could not even tell the difference between a federal commercial vehicle regulation and s state statute. Unreal.

Typically, some racist cops hate the thought of anyone not speaking the only language they comprehend...it is jealosy and shows that cops are not among the intelligentsia; people of substance , intellectually speaking, generally speak more than one language or at least do not get frustrated when confronted with an unknown dialect.

Should people who move legally to the USA learn English? If they choose to, yes. should it be mandayory? No. There are resources in virtually every language now and people do have the absolute right to isolate themselves with their own kind and enjoy any heritage they choose. We do not bash the Amish for secluding themselves socially but let a neighborhood turn Korean or Haitian or whatever and fearful white mid and lower class people will sound the alarm.

Choice. It is all about personal choice. I should not be forced to learn any other language and no one else should be either. I promise you none of the people demanding english only crap would be so ready to enforce it if they were required to learn some other language...human rights mean no forced or coercive language requirements.