Ga. Lawmaker Proposes Doing Away With Driver's Licenses

CBS Atlanta ^ | 1-31-11 | Rebekka Schramm

[dynachrome]

ATLANTA -- A state lawmaker from Marietta is sponsoring a bill that seeks to do away with Georgia driver's licenses.

State Rep. Bobby Franklin, R-Marietta, has filed House Bill 7, calling it the "Right to Travel Act."

In his bill, Franklin states, "Free people have a common law and constitutional right to travel on the roads and highways that are provided by their government for that purpose. Licensing of drivers cannot be required of free people, because taking on the restrictions of a license requires the surrender of an inalienable right."

Franklin told CBS Atlanta News that driver's licenses are a throw back to oppressive times. “Agents of the state demanding your papers," he said. "We’re getting that way here.”

CBS Atlanta's Rebekka Schramm asked Franklin, “How are we going to keep up with who’s who and who’s on the roads and who’s not supposed to be on the roads?”

“That’s a great question," Franklin said. "And I would have to answer that with a question, ‘Why do you need to know who’s who?’”

“What about 12-14-year-olds who want to drive? What would stop them?" Schramm asked.

“Well, what’s stopping them now anyway?” Franklin answered.

Franklin’s name is on the first 21 bills of the legislative session, including one that would require the exclusive use of gold and silver as tender in payment of debts by or to the state, as required in the Georgia Constitution

[fr_freak]

You don’t need a driver’s license to operate a vehicle on your own property.

Can't say what it's like in Georgia, but California has funny definitions of "private property". For example, if you had a really long driveway that was not gated off, but could be used by others (such as UPS deliveries, etc.) then it is considered public access even though it is private property, and thus a driver's license would be required (that is my understanding - my disclaimer is that I'm not a lawyer). For purposes of our discussion here, that would be a valid enough example to demonstrate that public funding of roadways is not the motivation for licensing of drivers. Not only that, but your vehicle has to be registered even if it is never driven, or even drivable, and never leaves your private property.

[fr_freak]

I don't know about other states, but in Ohio if a vehicle is never driven on a public road, it needn't be licensed, and no drivers license is needed to operate it.

In California, all motor vehicles (not necessarily farm equipment) must be registered, even if they are inoperable.

[Dead Corpse]

I've been driving for 25 years with no accidents and only one speeding ticket.

Does this mean I can give up my drivers license since my record speaks more eloquently to my driving skills than any "test" by a government bureaucrat ever could?

[Pan_Yan]

BTTT

[ought-six]

“Not only that, but your vehicle has to be registered even if it is never driven, or even drivable, and never leaves your private property.”

Depends on the state, and the circumstances. For instance, if you live in an urban or suburban environment your cars will probably have to be registered, whether they are running or not (and if they are not running they will be considered a derelict and you’ll have to move them, usually to a junk dealer); however, in a rural environment you usually will not have to have them registered, unless they will be operated at any time on public roads, or on private roads that have public access. I know people who own old pickup trucks that are used EXCLUSIVELY on private land (i.e., private ranches), and they don’t have to be registered.

[Pan_Yan]

Okay, I scanned through the comments and I’m amazed at how many FReepers are unable to imagine life without The State guiding and nurturing them in every activity. Several say they would not drive in Georgia if it did not issue licences. But they’ll drive in California, where everyone gets a licence even though half of the people are in the country illegally.

The free market via insurance can regulate who drives and who doesn’t far more efficiently than the DMV.