One of the hardest places to live as an illegal immigrant right now is Prince William County in Virginia. This week, a new law took effect in the county of 357,000 residents that allows police to check immigration status of people suspected of breaking the law — even minor traffic violations. Immigrant advocates worry that Hispanics will be ethnically profiled as a result of the law.

So now illegal immigrants are being told to avoid any missteps: don’t speed, jaywalk or so much as spit on the sidewalk. (which are all illegal also)

Work-van drivers signaled long before their turns to avoid being pulled over for a traffic violation. Day laborers skipped their early morning coffee at 7-Eleven, and merengue tunes played to empty tables at Latino lunch counters across Prince William County yesterday.

It was the first day of a county ordinance that allows police to check people’s immigration status for even minor legal infractions.

Police officials pledged to enforce the law fairly and to not stop and question individuals based on their racial or ethnic appearance, but many Hispanic residents said they feared they would be stopped without reason and deported for such violations as driving without a valid license or having a broken taillight.

“Already the rumors are starting,” said Rene Cabrera, a legal resident from El Salvador who works at a market in Manassas. “My friend saw four patrol cars outside a shopping mall and thought it was a raid. Instead of going to the store, he stayed in his car and drove away. I really worry this can create chaos.”

Immigrant advocate groups, speaking at a community meeting Sunday in Woodbridge and on local Spanish-language radio stations, have been advising immigrants without legal papers to keep a low profile and obey all traffic rules. If stopped by police, the groups said, they should be polite and show some identification but otherwise remain silent until they can see a lawyer.