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asmvas@njleg.org
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Posted on 02/23/2006 12:21:21 PM PST by Sharks
(1010 WINS) (TRENTON) A New Jersey assemblyman is pushing to create a ``driving privilege'' card that would allow undocumented immigrants to motor legally on New Jersey roads.
Assemblyman Joseph Vas, D-Perth Amboy, is fine-tuning a bill that would allow Garden State residents to obtain drivers' licenses even if they can't prove they are legally in the United States.
The initiative aims to get around the pending federal ``Real ID'' program, which in 2008 will require state motor vehicle departments to verify legal residency of driver's license applicants. Drivers licenses from states that do not comply will no longer be usable as ID to board airplanes or enter federal buildings.
In anticipation, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission has begun requiring new and renewing license applicants to prove legal residency.
Vas postponed a scheduled news conference Thursday morning in hope of melding his proposal with initiatives by Assemblyman Brian Stack, D-Union City.
Wendy Martinez, Stack's chief of staff, said such a bill is still in the discussion stage.
``We are looking to explore the possibility, but not committing ourselves,'' Martinez said. Stack, a member of the Assembly Transportation and Public Works Committee, ``is very much concerned with guaranteeing the safety of motorist and pedestrians in a bill that would address the concerns about people driving uninsured and without a license.''
Eleven U.S. states do not require proof of legal residence to obtain drivers licenses. Two, Tennessee and Utah, have introduced initiatives similar to the one Vas is considering.
Advocates say undocumented immigrants are already in the New Jersey, and driving, so it serves the interest of public safety to make sure they are also passing driving tests.
``We need to stop being hypocrites and not accepting that they are an important part of the economy of our state,'' said Martin Perez, president of the Latino Leadership Alliance. ``If we use this labor force, we have to assume some responsibility for making sure they get to their jobs legally and safely.''
Not everyone is likely to agree. Assemblyman Christopher Connors, R-Lacey Township, has reintroduced a bill to prohibit the state from granting any license, contract, loan or tax abatement to New Jerseyans who cannot prove they are legal residents.
Now why did this assemblyman have to go and through logic into this whole discussion? - sarc
A truly noble goal which will make NJ a better place to live.
Are there any laws that require insurance companies to issue policies to undocumented illegals? Last I checked I had a credit report run to "properly price" my policy based on risk. How will these folks be evaluated?
High risk, right? Since they blatantly disregard immigration laws, is it not safe to say it's unlikely they will obey our traffic laws?
Its funny how this would allow people without proof of legal residence to obtain a driver's license.
When I had to renew my NJ driver's license (actually to upgrade to the new high speed electronic deals) I had to have my old driver's license, a passport, my DD-214, a birth certificate, and the lady there still gave me a hard time about not having anything that verified that I had lived at my address for at least 90 days.
Hell, next time I'll just go in, tell them I am here illegally, and I should be good to go. Yeah NJ!
"Are there any laws that require insurance companies to issue policies to undocumented illegals?"
Insurers are a big part of the money behind these proposals and the creation of seemingly ethnic NGOs support. Insurers want to increase the pool of potential insureds.
But the biggest money behind these motions is the transportation industry. Drivers licenses act as a trade barrier in their eyes. Their actions aim to decrease the wage bargaining power of American citizens and residents in all jobs involving operating a motor vehicle.
That's why they go bonkers when some legislator offers amendments barring use of the licenses for commercial purposes. The money isn't being spent on politicians and fake NGOs so some illegal can drive to the market.
``If we use this labor force, we have to assume some responsibility for making sure they get to their jobs legally and safely.''
News to me. Does this apply to all workers? How will the state assume their responsibility to make sure all New Jerseyans get to their jobs legally and safely? It sounds like a lot of lawsuits will be required. LOL
They're not guaranteeing anything -- illegal aliens will continue to drive without a license or insurance. What's the incentive to comply with the law?
And I really doubt such a law would be enforced with any sincerity anyway.
Connors represents a district - Lacey Township - in which jobs are scarce and a lot of employment opportunities are in construction and in waitressing/bartending jobs on the Jersey Shore. This proposal by Vas should make his constituents livid.
You are much more likely to wind up paying out large claims on their behalf than getting dependable and juicy premiums from them.
And most of them wouldn't even bother buying insurance anyway.
Look what your state is trying to do. I thought you had things under control up there?
Oh yeah - PING
I almost posted another article about the same topic. you should have checked off "new jersey" in the topics. I'll do it now.
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asmvas@njleg.org
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