US Immigration Lawyer | Immigration Lawyer | Immigration Attorneys

Texas Senate Approves Bill That Would Allow Sobriety Check Points

The legislators in Texas are tackling a wide variety of issues during this current legislative session, dealing with topics ranging from education to immigration to the current economic crisis. Like every other year, some of the bills that are being considered garner a lot of attention and controversy. One example is the bill that was passed by the Texas Senate yesterday that would allow for sobriety checkpoints in our state for the first time in fifteen years. Right now, Texas is one of only eleven states that does not allow for such a guard against drunk driving. The question, however, is whether or not this new law would really address the problem it is meant to help.

The bill approved by the Senate would allow police officers to set up check points for four-hour periods on designated nights. However, federal highways and interstates, bridges, and roads that provide the only way in and out of a particular area would be exempted from the possibility of such a check point. Also, the law would not affect counties with a population of less than 250,000 people and cities that do not have at least 500,000 residents within its borders. These routes constitute a lot of roadway that cannot be checked by law enforcement for intoxicated drivers, including many of our college towns and vacation areas. Does this legislation serve its intended purpose if some of the areas with the most serious DWI problems cannot be monitored? One of the bill’s supporters, state Senator John Carona (R-Dallas), believes that the law as written will save up to 300 lives a year. Does this justify the effort, or will the questions raised about the law’s effectiveness prevent it from taking effect?

The criminal defense attorneys at Bertolino LLP are always following the activity in Austin, (let alone Houston and San Antonio) because we know that the decisions made by our state legislators will affect many of our clients. If you are arrested for driving while under the influence, either due to your actions behind the wheel of a car or at an eventual check point, our Austin criminal defense attorneys can help. Please contact on of our lawyers in our Austin, Houston, or San Antonio office to discuss the charges you are facing. http://www.belolaw.com

About the Author

Tony R. Bertolino is the managing partner at Bertolino LLP with law offices located in Austin, Houston and San Antonio, Texas. A member of the Trial and Appellate Litigation Team, Mr. Bertolino’s practice is devoted largely to complex transactions, commercial litigation, business law, entertainment law and family law matters. You can read more about Mr. Bertolino at www.belolaw.com

Houston Immigration Lawyer

Cameras on U.S.-Mexico Border are Not Proving as Effective to Curb Illegal Immigration

Countless proposals have been made at both the state and federal level in the past couple of years to address the problem of illegal immigration. Some politicians want to build a fence across our entire southern border.  Yet other politicians advocate the idea of punishing employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. For obvious reasons, there is no state whose residents are more adamant about finding solutions than the state of Texas.

Last year, Texas Governor Rick Perry decided to harness the vigilante spirit that exists among some Texans and install video cameras along the southern border that could be monitored by watching camera feeds on a home computer. Unfortunately, it appears that our observation efforts have fallen quite short of expectations.

The State of Texas received a $2 million federal grant to install surveillance cameras along the U.S.-Mexico border, with objectives for the program being set by the Texas Border Sheriffs Coalition. An investigation into the program was recently published, and the results are far from impressive. While the coalition hoped to make 1200 arrests in its first year as a result of citizen tips, there have only been three arrests in the first six months. They planned to install 200 cameras, which would constitute one camera for every six miles of border, but so far only thirteen cameras are up and operational, leaving 80 miles of border between each camera. With these numbers as evidence, the case that federal funds are being used effectively is a difficult one to make.

Despite these initial disappointments, Governor Perry remains committed to the program. As his spokeswoman, Katherine Cesinger, stated, he sees the camera as a way of “utilizing technology so you don’t have to pay for an extra set of eyes.” Opponents argue that Gov. Perry is simply trying to win favor with conservatives who have strong feelings about illegal immigration and needs to admit that the program has little to no effect on real border security.

At Bertolino LLP, we know that immigration law is a hot topic in Texas and we have San Antonio immigration attorneys who specialize in this controversial area of immigration law. We also have Austin immigration lawyers and Houston immigration attorneys who can assist.  If you are facing charges of being in this country illegally (i.e., removal proceedings or deportation proceedings), or if you need help completing the paperwork that confirms your legal status, our immigration lawyers can help. Please contact our Austin, Houston, or San Antonio office to discuss your situation. http://www.belolaw.com

About the Author

Tony R. Bertolino is the managing partner at Bertolino LLP with law offices located in Austin, Houston and San Antonio, Texas. A member of the Trial and Appellate Litigation Team, Mr. Bertolino’s practice is devoted largely to complex transactions, commercial litigation, business law, entertainment law and family law matters. You can read more about Mr. Bertolino at http://www.belolaw.com

Texas Immigration Lawyer discusses immigration reform