Posted on 07/01/2004 4:49:51 PM PDT by NewRomeTacitus
Starting Thursday, those wishing to obtain a Tennessee driver’s license will have to go through the inconvenience of providing an original birth certificate and several other documents to be eligible. The change is one of many new state laws to become effective Thursday.
Those who have renewed a Tennessee license at least once in the past will not be affected by the change. However, those who didn’t first obtain a license prior to January of 2001, should be ready to produce several pieces of information including an official birth certificate (no photocopies) or passport, two proofs of identity, two proofs of residency and a Social Security number.
Those without a Social Security number will have to sign an affidavit stating they have never had one.
Under the new law, driver’s licenses will not be issued to those who aren’t a legal citizen or permanent resident. Instead anyone who can’t prove their status will be issued a “driver’s certificate.” The law’s first effective date was May 29, when the issuance of driver’s licenses to those who couldn’t prove citizenship was discontinued.
Those that fell into this category since May 29 may pick up a “driver’s certificate,” a state issued document not to be used as identification, as early as Thursday.
Gov. Phil Bredesen, whose administration presented the legislation to the General Assembly months ago, says the law is necessary in addressing Homeland Security concerns despite an inconvenience to motorists.
“I would love to have an answer that really is convenient for everybody [but] the Homeland Security aspect of that … really trumped all the other issues,” said Bredesen Monday. “I certainly understand it’s an inconvenience for some people; it’s an inconvenience for everybody who has to bring a copy of a birth certificate to get the licenses. … But I think it’s an important move to get us to be … from one of the loosest states to one of the tightest states.”
The new law is the latest in what has been a controversial issue since the General Assembly passed legislation in 2001 allowing those without Social Security numbers to obtain a Tennessee driver license. At the time the state Department of Safety supported the law saying it was safer to allow illegal aliens the ability to obtain a license, as they would have to pass all standard testing.
Opponents of the measure argued that non-citizens shouldn’t be allowed a license and criticized the long lines that resulted at testing stations.
Those who obtained a license since Jan. 1, 2001, and can’t prove citizenship or permanent residency, must upon expiration exchange their license for the new “certificate.”
A recent Department of Safety figure set the number of motorists without Social Security numbers who had obtained a license since 2001 at more than 45,600.
Department of Safety spokesperson Beth Denton says the department has been preparing and training for the change.
Some of the other motor vehicle laws taking effect Thursday include:
- A primary seatbelt law. Police officers may pull over a motorist for the express purpose of an unbuckled belt. Previously motorists would have to be pulled over for another reason to receive a ticket for an unbuckled belt.
- Children under age 1 or 20 pounds or less must be in a rear seat in a rear-facing child passenger restraint system.
- Children ages 1-3 weighing greater than 20 pounds must be in the rear seat in a forward facing restraint system.
-Children 4-8 and less than 5 feet tall must be in the rear seat using a booster seat.
I have to prove who I am? That's racist/sexist/bigotry/whatever. I refuse so I am going to sue!!!
Sarcasm abounds...
Hooray for Tennessee!!! Of course the idiots is CA are trying to move in the opposite direction.
A classic case of "one step forward and two steps backward."
There's been some sort of Federal campaign going on to get all states to do this. I suspect the threat of withheld highway funding has everything to do with it.
On the other hand, have you ever seen what human beings look like after hurtling through windshields? I'd use a 6-point racing harness if I could afford it.
Congratulations Tennessee. A stste finally has the gumption to differentiate between legals and illegals. Hey Californis, take heed. Ten years from now, you will wish you had done the same thing. Come on Ahhhhnuld, do the right thing.
I wear seatbelts all the time. That's scarcely the point. The point is that I do not want some cop shining his flashlight in my car at some roadblock to make sure that it is on. They are starting to do this in Massachusetts already. We are becoming a police state under the guise of safety.
That would be a switch, he just caved in on the budget breaking retirement increase for public employees.
You have to provide a Birth Certificate in Georgia, if you are applying for a driver's license, after moving from another state. It is a slight inconvience, but well worth making sure that illegals are kept out of the system.
Actually Tennessee is moving BACK to somethign practical. We were the first to give driver's licenses to illegal aliens. Best I understood, the reasoning was something like "just because they are illegal doesn't meant that they should break the law by driving without a license."
Can you believe our Democrat governor seems to be more concerned about Homeland Security than the guys at Homeland Security?
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