Measure 88: Only persons legally present should drive in Oregon

Letter date: 
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Letter publisher: 
FG Leader
Letter author: 
David Olen Cross
Letter body: 

The action by Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber and the state Legislature on Senate Bill 833 last year granting some form of Oregon driver's license, called a driver's card, to foreign nationals illegally present in the state, passed in part under the pretense that the legislation was a matter of public safety...

But the law is disconnected from the reality of driving in our state, considering the previous dangers illegal immigrant drivers have posed to Oregonians...

Here are seven victims whose lives were extinguished violently and prematurely by those illegally present that chose to drive their motor vehicles impaired and recklessly.

Judyth Anne Cox, a 66-year-old wife and mother of two, was killed in Yamhill County on Dec. 3, 2007, by Mexican national Ignacio Merendon-Zerega. He had six prior DUIIs. Merendon-Zerega had no driver's license or insurance.

Carma Colleen Smith, a 52-year-old wife and mother of seven, was killed in Yamhill County on May 11, 2008, (Mothers Day) by Mexican national Leonel Zurita-Loeza. He was on a diversion for a previous DUII at the time he killed Smith. Zurita-Loeza had a driver's license but no insurance.

Justin Daniel Dougherty, a 23-year-old single father of one, was killed in Lane County on March 4, 2008, by Mexican national Eduardo Gutierrez-Duarte. He had a previous DUII in 2004. Gutierrez-Duarte had a driver's license but no insurance.

Kay Blaser, a 26-year-old mother of one, was killed in Clackamas County on Oct. 12, 2008 by Mexican national Fernando Deanda-Moreno. He had no driver's license or insurance.

Barbara Jean Bier, a 52-year-old wife and mother of seven, was killed in Polk County on Nov. 21, 2008, by Martin Martinez-Aguilar, who had a driver's license but no insurance.

Albert Lloyd Rowland, a 53-year-old homeless man, was killed in Multnomah County on May 13, 2010, by Mexican national Alvaro Lugos-Ponce, who had no driver's license or insurance.

John Zupan (founder of Zupan's Markets), a 66-year-old father of two, was killed in Multnomah County on Aug. 30, 2011, by Mexican national Edy Porfirio Reynoso-Ramirez. He had no driver's license or insurance.

Oregon voters concerned about future public safety of the state's roads can stop SB833 from becoming state law on Nov. 4, during the 2014 Oregon general election, by voting "no" on Measure 88.

David Olen Cross of Salem writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com.