Posted on 02/28/2007 7:10:49 AM PST by laotzu
A measure filed today in the Texas Legislature would allow illegal immigrants to get Texas drivers licenses, 1200 WOAI news has learned.
State Representative Armando Martinez, who represents the city of Weslaco, on the Rio Grande, says his measure would require that the Texas Department of Public Safety, which issues drivers licenses, accept the 'Matricula Consular' card as legal identification in issuing a license.
The 'Matricula Consular' is a card issued by the Mexican government to its citizens who are in the United States, regardless of whether they are in this country legally or illegally. Martinez's bill stresses that the identification card issued by a foreign government 'must include the applicant's photograph, full name, and date of birth' and the 'other country must have a reasonable mechanism by which the department can verify the identify document.'
Martinez tells 1200 WOAI news illegals are already driving in Texas anyway, and this law would require that they have driving skills and follow the rules of the road.
"If an illegal gets pulled over and gets a ticket, then what do we do with that," Martinez said. "How can we enforce the law and how can we get them to pay for that ticket? How can we go and find that person."
Phony Texas drivers licenses are easily purchased at flea markets and other locations, generally for about $30.
"My bill would make sure that they are driving the way the law is stated here in Texas," Martinez said.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger last year vetoed a bill that would have allowed that state to issue drivers licenses to illegal immigrants. Two measures introduced in Congress would bar states from issuing drivers licenses to illegal immigrants.
Martinez says his bill would require that any drivers license that is issued to a person who uses a foreign identification card be printed sideways, like licenses issued to Texans under 21 current are. He says that would make security officials who rely on the drivers license for access to secure locations demand a second form of identification.
"A person that would have that type of drivers license would have to have a passport, a second form of identification, something of that nature," he said.
Gee. That is a tough one. What to do.....what to do...
Oh well. As long as we get the money, that's all that matters.
This is a precursor for allowing them to drive trucks from mexico throughout the U.S.
Ping
It's all about motor voter & registering illegals to vote
And the dirty little secret is that once illegals sign up for welfare; they are then allowed to register to vote!!!
"Armando Martinez"
Sounds more like a representative in Mexico City.
if they are here illegally we obviously already aren't enforcing our laws.
So what's the difference and your point?.
Don't you just pick and choose what laws you care to follow?
Just a thought on a federal angle of the Texas proposal: if states' licensing powers are dictated by the federal gov, where does this put gun permit reciprocity? There are many sides to this.
Perry will pass it. He just awarded a toll road project to a Spanish conglomerate. He tried to push a bill through which would've benefited Merck. He's received contributions from Merck. Perry is a republican whore. I liked him until he showed a pattern of dirty conduct.
I fail to see how Mr. Martinez can be "so sure" that addresses provided for said licenses will be accurate.
The information provided on welfare applications is "very often" incorrect. And the trend is toward privatization or just letting recipients enter their own lies on computers or by phone!
Matricular Consulate ping!
I liked him until he showed a pattern of dirty conduct.
The problem is......most politicians show 'dirty conduct' once they get into office.
We have nowhere left to turn.
I've completely given up on this issue.
Republicans and big business want the illegals for the cheap labor. Democrats and the hard lefties want the illegals for the voter base they will represent.
The GOP is committing slow suicide. The country as a whole is right behind.
ping
Well, TX has just become a blue state.
Noooooooo!
"I fail to see how Mr. Martinez can be "so sure" that addresses provided for said licenses will be accurate."
They can't but the whole crowd of politicians just can't wait to get these illegals on the dole & registered to vote. That's all these politicians are about...power & getting reelected...nothing more...nothing less...and unfortunately unless term limits is legislated we're gonna have to just live with it. And there isn't much chance of term limits EVER been legislated!!!
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