Font Size

Politics

E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Colo. Voters Weigh Driving Rules, Pot In Elections

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

Recipient E-mail:*
- Your Name:*
- Your E-mail:*
Add a Message:
Send me a copy of this e-mail.

Type the characters in this picture:*

Click here to refresh with new letters

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

Print Share + Comments

Nov 3, 2009 5:56 pm US/Mountain

Colo. Voters Weigh Driving Rules, Pot In Elections

By Kristen Wyatt, AP Writer
DENVER (AP) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: A voter drops off a ballot in Denver on Tuesday.
CBS

Close

numSlides of totalImages

How far should police go to keep illegal immigrants off the roads? In Denver, it's a question that is juicing interest in an otherwise ho-hum municipal election.

As cities across Colorado hold races on everything from mayors to marijuana possession, a Denver question on ballots asks if officers should be forced to take away cars from people caught driving without licenses.

Denver passed a similar measure a few years ago — but enforcement has been spotty. Police have opposed the requirement, saying impoundment is an option officers already have and that the requirement would tie up too much police time.

The Denver driving measure headlines a variety of municipal questions on ballots in several dozen cities.

In Breckenridge, voters are deciding whether to become the state's second city, after Denver, to make it legal for adults to possess up to 1 once of marijuana. The measure would be largely symbolic, because pot possession remains illegal under state law for people without medical clearance.

Elsewhere, more than 20 tax proposals are up for votes, along with dozens of races for mayor and city councils.

Sales tax extensions or increases are on ballots in cities including Colorado Springs, Boulder, Leadville, Longmont and Telluride. Aspen is considering a higher marketing tax. Lodging taxes are on ballots in towns including Black Hawk and La Junta.

In Denver, opinions are strong on the immigrant driving question. Some call it an overdue crackdown on illegal drivers. Others complain it could snare people who simply left the house without a license, forcing them to pay to get back their cars.

"I'm all for it," said Bob Gonzales, 75, who was having lunch with friends at a Mexican restaurant in northwest Denver. He dismissed complaints that the measure unfairly targets Latinos.

"I don't even know why they have to put it up for a vote. If you're driving without a license, you lose the car. Period."

A barber nearby disagreed. Brian Poskin, 29, owner of Ollie's Barber Shop, said the measure is mean-spirited.

"It's a bad idea," he said. "I mean, I don't think any human being can be 'illegal,' so I'm hoping it fails," Poskin said.

Denver's election, like others around the state, was all mail-in. Voters who waited until Tuesday were asked to drop off their ballots at designated election sites.

Voting administrators in Denver and other towns with municipal elections said no problems had been reported by midafternoon and they expected a speedy count. Election Day was warm and clear across Colorado.