Thread: GA: License Tag Plan Has Latinos Upset

http://www.11alive.com/news/article_new ... ryid=92128

License Tag Plan Has Latinos Upset
Feb 13, 2007

A plan to change the rules on license plates in Georgia has some Latino officials upset.

Right now in Georgia, it is possible to get a license plate without having a valid Georgia drivers' license. A new bill would change that. It basically says that a drivers' license would be required to get a license plate.

The plan for license plates in Georgia has been in place for years, but Senator Chip Rogers said the need for change is obvious.

"It makes no sense that we would give a license plate to someone that's valid, and yet that person may not have a driver's license," said Rogers.

But others see the plan as yet another attempt to strike back against illegal immigrants.

"I do see that as immigrant bashing, and I think that the Georgia legislature needs to be careful with that," said Jerry Gonzalez of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. "Our industry textiles, construction, poultry, our farmers heavily depend on immigrant labor."

Rogers said his bill has nothing to do with immigration.

"There's just no tie whatsoever," said Rogers. "This is simply a public safety measure."

But some say the license plate issue is a tweak that should wait for immigration reform on the federal level.

"We need to do it at the proper level, otherwise, legislators are just wasting their time," said Gonzalez.

The plan has already passed unanimously in the Senate. And right now, there doesn't seem to be many lining up to stop it.

Why is it that everytime we try to start protecting Americans the Latinos start saying it is racist against illegals? Illegals don't belong in the country, it has nothing to do with race, it has everything to do against illegals regardless of race. Don't listen to most of the latino groups. The want amnesty for the illegals and don't care about what happens to America and infact they want America to become part of Mexico instead of the people becoming americans

Its quite obvious that the only reason they don't want this law to pass is so they can have plates on a car and drive it without a license! Everyone knows this to be true but of course the way around it is to cry discrimination!!!

"I do see that as immigrant bashing, and I think that the Georgia legislature needs to be careful with that," said Jerry Gonzalez of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. "Our industry textiles, construction, poultry, our farmers heavily depend on immigrant labor."

Excuse me, but does anyone else see this as a veiled threat? I'm sure this American Basher meant it that way, but I take it as a promise. Maybe if the illegals quit those jobs in retaliation, AMERICANS will actually GET those jobs and the companies involved will be forced to pay a living wage to Americans!

They all say wait and let the federal government handle these problems...like the feds have "handled" it so far, right? I think they're counting on the federal government to give them amnesty and that's why they keep saying we should all just "wait"...

"I do see that as immigrant bashing, and I think that the Georgia legislature needs to be careful with that,"

YES, I THINK THIS SOUNDS LIKE A THREAT TO ME!!

And peronally we don't care how you see it!! makes no difference to us!!

I have a question. What does this bill do to elderly folks who want to own a car but have to have others drive them because their vision is poor or they cannot pass a driving test for other reasons? It seems to me that there would be a number of legitimate reasons for wanting to own and license a car even if you yourself did not or could not gain a DL.

I am concerned that the illegal alien issue that the GOVERNMENT has allowed and is continuing to allow to get out of hand is increasingly being used to tighten the noose around the necks of honest Americans, much the same way that the issue of terrorism was used to ramrod through the frighteningly intrusive Patriot Act. Does no one else share my concern?

Originally Posted by CrocketsGhost

I have a question. What does this bill do to elderly folks who want to own a car but have to have others drive them

How about a letter from their doctor like you do for handicap?
Stating they need a licensed car so friend or family can get them to their intended destination.

But others see the plan as yet another attempt to strike back against illegal immigrants.

And just how is this a bad thing??

CG, I think it would be fairly easy to insert an exemption much like the specialty handicap tag. Keeping as many of these unlicensed illegal drivers off the road is worth the extra effort. However, everybody would probably have to weld their plates to their cars to prevent theft. I surprised that someone hasn't invented a lockable license plate holder.

Originally Posted by gofer

But others see the plan as yet another attempt to strike back against illegal immigrants.

And just how is this a bad thing??

CG, I think it would be fairly easy to insert an exemption much like the specialty handicap tag. Keeping as many of these unlicensed illegal drivers off the road is worth the extra effort. However, everybody would probably have to weld their plates to their cars to prevent theft. I surprised that someone hasn't invented a lockable license plate holder.

Yes, it would be "fairly easy" to insert an exemption, but my personal experience is that no such exemptions are being inserted, such as an exemption for the DL in places like Texas for folks who have no SSN. Such an exemption requiring substantial alternate documentation would have been a no-brainer, but despite considerable pressure from the rather large group of Texans who don't have and don't want an SSN, such an exemption has yet to be added more than ten years later.

As I said, my concern is that the government is intentionally failing at its job and then seeking MORE power and control by rousing the rabble over the consequences. If you had a vendor who constantly failed at every job you threw his way, would you take kindly to that vendor placing even more conditions on your submission of new projects or would you demand that the vendor get his own performance shored up or else get NO MORE business from you? The government is the only business that can screw up and then demand MORE power to screw up with. Not only that, but the bastards give themselves raises out of your pocket and make you pay for their mistakes.

CG wrote:

I have a question. What does this bill do to elderly folks who want to own a car but have to have others drive them because their vision is poor or they cannot pass a driving test for other reasons?

This isn't 1955 and Miss Daisy no longer requires a personal car, CG. Miss daisy has access to a taxi, train, plane, neighbor, son, daughter, friend, and even home delivery through Pizza John's.

If I lived in Georgia, I'd welcome the proposed law.