CA Illegal Alien Driver Licence Bill Moves Ahead

SACRAMENTO (EFE) - ^ | 8-22-03

[hedgetrimmer]

Once they have a vehicle license they can get a license say, to drive a gasoline truck, to carry harzardous waste, fly a plane, gee Al Queda could have a great time with this.

[montag813]

So let me get this straight now...tell me if I'm wrong here...

It is OK for a State to violate clear Federal law and jurisdiction by allowing millions of illegal invaders not only freedom, but the full right and benefits of citizenship......however,

It is NOT ok for a State to display a sculpture of granite with the Ten Commandments in a single location.

[drypowder]

If Davis signs this crap a stay to halt the activation of the law should be filed and prosicutions sought for those officials who supported it, including Davis. If I had the money and the time I'd do it. Its obvious that no elected official in California will fight it as proven by the derailment of prop 187.

[.38sw]

I had read this morning that it was stalled. Security fears stall bill letting illegal immigrants get licenses Davis accused of putting politics above safety

[AJFavish]

For an analysis of that judge's Prop. 187 decision, see the illegal immigration section of my web site.

wwww.allanfavish.com

[hattend]

Thanks for the link!
====
Sacramento -- A bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses stalled Thursday after running into security concerns from lawmakers and county sheriffs.

The legislation had been on the fast track after Gov. Gray Davis said he would sign the measure. But amendments made this week -- including one that would double the cost of renewing licenses for all Californians -- raised red flags.

"Last year, the governor wanted stronger security. This bill is 15 steps backward," said Nick Warner, legislative director for the California State Sheriffs Association. "I don't think the world has changed that much."

Except, he noted, for the Oct. 7 recall election. The governor vetoed a similar measure last year, drawing the ire of many Latinos who support the bill. Republicans were more blunt.

"Are you really willing to compromise the safety of Californians for a measure that is only intended at this point in time to extend or save Gov. Davis' failed political career? I hope the answer is no," said Assemblyman Russ Bough, R-Cherry Valley (Riverside County).

As it turns out, the Assembly never got a chance to vote on the measure. In an unusual move, the bill was pulled in the middle of the debate because of concerns raised by Democrats in the Senate.

Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, has been working on a version of this bill for five years. In the wake of Sept. 11, he has been working with law enforcement to find a way to allow illegal immigrants to have a license and still protect public safety.

Cedillo said the bill would make Californians safer by making sure people driving have licenses and insurance.

This year's bill, SB60, was amended this week to include a high-tech fingerprinting system and require immigrants to submit a federal taxpayer identification number. License fees for all Californians would double from $12 to $24 to pay for the plan.

But those amendments prompted opposition on several fronts.

The Internal Revenue Service warned that it does not verify the authenticity of documentation provided to get an identification number. The tax agency also doesn't conduct background checks or require anyone to appear in person.

The IRS sent a letter to the Department of Motor Vehicles urging it to oppose any attempt to use taxpayer identification numbers as proof of identification.

DMV spokesman Bill Branch said the taxpayer identification number would be used in collecting court fines and child support and for tax purposes, not to verify the identity of license applicants. The bill requires other identification for that purpose, he said.

Branch said the IRS letter was sent to all 50 states, not just California.

Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Marina Del Rey (Los Angeles County), said this is one of many areas of the bill that troubles her.

"We have no way of knowing that the people who are getting new licenses are who they say they are," she said.

The sheriffs association is concerned that the use of taxpayer identification numbers would jeopardize public safety. It said the current version of the bill no longer requires background checks. The bill has also dropped the requirement that illegal immigrants who get driver's licenses must also be in the process of applying for citizenship.

"We are giving people licenses who are here illegally and doing nothing about it," Warner said.

Six other states use the taxpayer identification numbers and two, Utah and New Mexico, use the numbers in issuing driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, Cedillo said.

California's Department of Motor Vehicles said the taxpayer identification number is not the only method of identification under the bill.

Bowen said she is concerned with the new requirement that every Californian would have to be fingerprinted to obtain or renew their driver's license.

"That is an enormous change," she said. "It's a civil liberties issue. Who gets access to the database? Is this really what we want to do?"

The proposed requirement would mean that to get a license renewed, everyone would have to go into the Department of Motor Vehicles and give a full set of fingerprints, which would be entered into a database.

Currently, the DMV takes a thumbprint, but the prints are not entered into a database.

Bowen said she is also concerned that the law would take effect Jan. 1, long before any of the new systems could be put in place and years before all fingerprints could be gathered.

It is unclear how long it might take to work these issues out.

Cedillo said he still hopes for final approval on Monday.

Bowen, on the other hand, advised caution. "It's more important to get it right," she said.

E-mail Lynda Gledhill at lgledhill@sfchronicle.com.

[Fixit]

Click for animated version

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Thank you very much for the reference to your web site. I will certainly use it and your other writings often for all the events that interest me.

[moehoward]

What an absolute crock.

[sarasmom]

There is such a concept as an "International Drivers Licence".
Generally, it consists of your country of origin regular drivers licence, and a document you apply for in the country you wish to drive in, that requires you to have passed a signs and laws test to prove competancy and acknowledge personal responcibility and willingness to comply with the "other" country's driving rules.
It is not a valid form of identification.
I dont remember all the details, I just remember buying a car for my military fiance and putting everything in his name, because I did not have one, and was not yet able to legally drive in Europe.
Does anyone know the legal international requirements?
I dont think the Brits, who drive on the wrong side of the road, would allow USA tourists to just rent a car and start tooling around the country, absent insurance and passing a sign test.
WTF does California think they are doing?
No legal immigrant or temporary visa holder needs to be issued a drivers licence to drive legally in the USA.
Do they?

[txdoda]

Illegals with drivers licenses can then use them to get voter registration applications >>>>>>>

Be nice if CA voters could get IMMIGRATION officers to do their job, at the VOTING BOOTHS.

[mendedheart]

Arnold is NOT for the Illegals receiving a drivers licence and would not sign a bill.
I just heard on the radio the bill SB60 went to the senate today and may be signed by Gumby (Davis) tomorrow afternoon.Weds. Sept 3 rd.
Looks like we been had again.
I vote for Arnold!

[dalebert]

I think illegals getting voter registration with their drivers license is what the intention is. I still don't get the illegal part. If I do something illegal I pay a fine or go to jail. Illegals get rewarded with drivers liscense and welfare, healthcare,housing,foodstamps, ect....

[dalebert]

I think Davis is going to sign this one.

[Tom Jefferson]

My thought is they should tell illegals they can come and apply for a drivers license and then when they show up, arrest and deport them.

[dalebert]

good thought

[Regulator]

Then I realized he probably had none and his only punishment would be deportation

Oh, don't worry. He won't be deported. Even with felonies, they don't get deported. Since he's here illegally (most likely), he isn't under BICE scrutiny. And the cops and prison people don't talk to BICE.

So he's home free.

[freecountry]

WCBS880 09/06/2003

"If you are going to contribute to our economy, you have the right to drive to work," Davis said afterward. "Everyone benefits by having drivers on the road who know the rules of the road and presumably be a safer driver."

"I think we have to be honest about our dependency on people to do jobs Americans will not," Davis said earlier.

Question:
What do you guys think? Better if they driving without driver licence and insurance or with licence?
And why do you guys dont want to do that kind of jobs what they doing-Landscaping, moving etc. for $ 4-6?

[dalebert]

This is not about racism. Its about doing what is best for this coountry and not Mexico. Mexico should solve its own problems from within.