San Francisco seems to have a thing against law-abiding citizens.

That city’s police department is now cutting those driving illegally – without a license – a big break.  Starting Sunday San Francisco Police will cease impounding vehicles the first time any driver is pulled over that isn’t licensed to drive. And it’s all because a San Francisco supervisor pushing the issue thinks it is unfair to illegal immigrants.

Of course it is perceived as unfair to illegal immigrants since you have to be in this country legally to be able to access the privilege to drive. Note that driving is just that in this country – a privilege and not a right.  Backers of the new rule say it is an unfair hardship on illegal immigrants to impound their cars. Forget the fact you need a driver’s license to buy auto insurance which means they are also driving around illegally without insurance. Thanks to the generous policy of San Francisco won’t have to have that little responsibility applied to illegals either.

Here’s how the new policy works: Unlicensed drivers pulled over will get 20 minutes to reach a relative or friend with a valid license as well as insurance who can take possession of the vehicle. Naturally, if the unlicensed driver doesn’t have a cell phone, San Francisco cops will help them contact someone. And if someone doesn’t show up within 20 minutes, the patrol officer then radios for permission to have the car towed. It gets better. The second offense within six months results in a tow automatically but the clock starts all over again if the unlicensed driver isn’t pulled over during a six-month period.

You got it. An unlicensed driver could go for decades violating state vehicle code laws and still keep their car.

Kind of makes you feel warm and fuzzy about having to get a driver’s license plus make sure you have adequate insurance coverage.

There are a lot of people out there who aren’t illegal immigrants who are horrific drivers and can’t get licenses. So will they be getting a pass too in San Francisco to keep going on their merry way after they get their car back from a relative or friend and continue to pose a threat to law-abiding motorists and pedestrians?

In order to allow illegal immigrants to skirt the law San Francisco must do the same with all other unlicensed drivers.

What about drivers on a suspended license for various crimes such as driving under the influence, repeatedly driving at reckless speeds, or other chronic traffic infractions? Technically they’re unlicensed drivers.

All of this is being done with the blessing of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom who wants to be governor of California.

That means – if elected – he’d be the head state bureaucrat. What will stop him from giving into political correct pressure and suspending the impound law statewide if he’s elected?

If Newsom has no problem coddling up to the political correct crowd’s “victim du jour” while mayor of San Francisco what makes you think he’ll act differently if he is governor?

Perhaps Newsom would like to talk to the families of drivers and passengers who have been killed over the years in horrific San Joaquin Valley crashes when the culprit was an unlicensed illegal immigrant.

There is a reason why the state expects people to pass specific levels of competency before they can legally get behind the wheel of what amounts to a potential lethal weapon.

More people in this country are killed in traffic accidents than in war or by guns domestically. The number of traffic fatalities in 2008 was 37,313. If San Francisco is worried about the victims of war and gun violence - which we all should be – why isn’t there the same level of concern about innocent victims in vehicle crashes?

This is what happens when politicians interfere with the manner in which police go about their business essentially telling them what they can and can’t do when it comes to enforcing legally adopted laws of the state and federal governments. San Francisco is also where the politicians told cops not to check the immigration status of underage illegals who are arrested for offenses such as selling drugs. It was an illegal passing himself off as being underage that got put back on the streets and then gunned down a father and his two sons.

But then again what do you expect from a city that has seriously toyed with the idea of letting illegals vote in city and school elections?

To contact Dennis Wyatt, e-mail dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com