150 Democrats vote against measure declaring aliens deportable if convicted of 'driving while intoxicated or impaired'



In a bipartisan 274-150 vote, the House of Representatives passed a measure on Thursday which would declare that aliens who drive "while intoxicated or impaired" are inadmissible, and, if convicted of such an offense, deportable.

The 150 lawmakers who voted against the measure were all Democrats. But 59 other Democrats joined 215 Republicans in voting to approve the measure.

"Any alien who has been convicted of an offense for driving while intoxicated or impaired, as those terms are defined under the law of the jurisdiction where the conviction occurred (including a conviction for driving while under the influence of or impaired by alcohol or drugs), without regard to whether the conviction is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under Federal, State, tribal, or local law, is deportable," the measure reads.

"Any alien who has been convicted of, who admits having committed, or who admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of an offense for driving while intoxicated or impaired, as those terms are defined under the law of the jurisdiction where the conviction, offense, or acts constituting the essential elements of the offense occurred (including an offense for driving while under the influence of or impaired by alcohol or drugs), without regard to whether the conviction or offense is classified as a misdemeanor or felony under Federal, State, tribal, or local law, is inadmissible," the proposal states.

In speaking out against the measure, Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington called the proposal "extraordinarily broad" and claimed, "Public safety threats, including those who have been convicted of serious DUI offenses are already inadmissible and removable ... and this bill would not change or enhance that."

U.S. law currently indicates that an alien is deportable if they have been "convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude committed within five years (or 10 years in the case of an alien provided lawful permanent resident status under section 1255(j) of this title) after the date of admission, and" have "convicted of a crime for which a sentence of one year or longer may be imposed."

Jayapal claimed that "courts have ruled ... that serious DUI offenses that put others at risk are CIMTs and make the perpetrators deportable."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Indiana man arrested for DUI while driving children's Power Wheels toy



An Indiana man was arrested for DUI while driving a children's Power Wheel toy, according to police.

James McKee was driving a Power Wheels Jeep around 9 p.m. on Wednesday when he was reportedly stopped by an officer with the Indiana State Police. The man was reportedly driving in the roadway with no lights or reflectors in Vincennes, Indiana.

The state trooper allegedly pulled over the Power Wheels toy after observing the driver of the toy vehicle driving erratically and showing signs of impairment.

The 51-year-old driver is accused of failing field sobriety tests, according to police.

"ISP said the man was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes and it was determined he was under the influence of methamphetamine and marijuana," according to WAVE – a television station out of Louisville, Kentucky.

The man driving a Power Wheels Jeep was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated with a prior conviction – a level 6 felony.

McKee was arrested and taken to the Knox County Jail.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

51-year-old man facing charges after driving Power Wheels Jeep under the influence www.youtube.com

'My decision to drive last night was irresponsible': California Democrat apologizes after being 'cited for a misdemeanor for driving under the influence'



California state Sen. Dave Min, a Democrat currently running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, was arrested on Tuesday night.

"Last night I was cited for a misdemeanor for driving under the influence. My decision to drive last night was irresponsible. I accept full responsibility and there is no excuse for my actions. To my family, constituents and supporters, I am so deeply sorry. I know I need to do better. I will not let this personal failure distract from our work in California and in Washington," Min wrote in a Wednesday Facebook post.

California Highway Patrol officers noticed a vehicle being driven without the headlights on, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing an arrest report supplied to the outlet by CHP. Authorities followed the vehicle, which they saw "stop at a red light momentarily but then proceed into the intersection while the light remained red."

"The officers contacted the driver of the vehicle and noticed signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication," the report said, according to the Times. "The officers conducted a Driving Under the Influence [DUI] investigation and determined the driver was driving under the influence of an alcoholic beverage."

Min is running for the U.S. House seat currently occupied by Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, who is running for U.S. Senate.

"Like Senator Min, we're disappointed in his actions, but pleased that he's taken responsibility and apologized," California state Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.

"Voters will rightfully question David Min's judgement after this incident, but will California Democrats?" National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Ben Petersen asked in a statement.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!