Thread: Bill would prevent illegal immigrants from registering cars

Bill would prevent illegal immigrants from registering cars

Mary Jo Pitzl
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 22, 2007 05:17 PM


People must be in Arizona legally in order to register their car, lawmakers decided Monday in giving preliminary approval to a change to the state's registration rules.

House Bill 2063, sponsored by state Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, is the latest in a string of moves designed to discourage illegal immigration by cutting off privileges.

But it also would help police when they try to track down the owners of vehicles involved in hit-and-run collisions, said Andy Swan, president of Associated Highway Patrolmen of Arizona.

"To get a driver's license, you have to be in the country legally," Swan told members of the House Homeland Security and Property Rights Committee. "It only makes sense that to get registered, you also have to be legally in the country."

Some lawmakers said that it also makes sense to prevent car sales to people who aren't qualified to register their cars.

"If you have to show documents to register a car, why not have documents to buy a car?" asked Rep. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix.

The proposal is opposed by the Arizona Automobile Dealers Association, which said it could prevent such actions as someone buying a vehicle for their spouse or child. Often, these are given as surprise gifts, but a requirement to show that the registered owner is legally in the state could ruin such surprises, said Bobbi Sparrow, president of the trade association.

The bill passed, 8-1, but lawmakers said it needs to be fixed in some areas and could yield to a similar bill, House Bill 2466, which will be heard Thursday.
http://www.azcentral.com/php-bin/clickt ... 22ONL.html

The proposal is opposed by the Arizona Automobile Dealers Association, which said it could prevent such actions as someone buying a vehicle for their spouse or child. Often, these are given as surprise gifts, but a requirement to show that the registered owner is legally in the state could ruin such surprises, said Bobbi Sparrow, president of the trade association.

Is that the best the AADA could do in way of a response?

Since i have lived in Dallas (one year now) I have seen 20+ hit and runs where the driver and passengers fled the scene.

This law should be in everystate by the end of this year... it will really cut down on uninsured motorist cost and lower our insurance rates (hopefully)

Hell we wouldn't want to ruin a surprise now would we? Are they kidding with this?