English-Only Driver's License Bill Close to Passing
Read Comments (16) Updated 3/31/2009 9:35:38 PM
Posted By: Paul Crawley



ATLANTA -- Getting a drivers license in Georgia can be an unpleasant experience, but it's even more difficult for many immigrants.


That's why the Georgia Department of Driver Services now offers tests in a dozen languages.


But the State Legislature is about to change that, requiring all tests to be taken in English.


The sponsor of SB 67 says it's simply a matter of public safety on the highways.


"There're some cases where in other parts of the country people have had wrecks and caused deaths and it was caused because they couldn't read the signs," says State Senator Jack Murphy of Cumming.


But some civil rights groups claim there's an ulterior motive.


"The true intention is to send an unwelcoming message about Georgia towards immigrants," says Jerry Gonzalez of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials.


Gonzalez calls SB 67 the "KIA Go Home" bill, claiming it could discourage industries like the new Korean KIA automobile plant being built near LaGrange.


"It's essentially saying to foreign investors, 'send us your money, but keep your people over there'," Gonzalez claims.


State Senator Murphy bristles at the suggestion that his bill is about anything other than safer highways.


"They're trying to make something out of this that isn't," Murphy says, "For anybody to say that I am anti-immigration is absolutely asinine."


We took a poll of some drivers who got licenses Tuesday at the DDS office in Norcross.


Alma Ubay told us she was torn, but sympathetic to fellow Hispanics who haven't mastered English.


"There're some people that don't know," she said, "they try their best, but they don't learn how to read or talk English."


"I think it's English," said Sudhendu Nag of Calcutta, India, "They should learn English, it's an English country."


American born Larry Washington suggested a compromise.


"I think you could do a combination of both," he told us, "have the test done in their language and then have them pass proficiency tests (on the highway)."

The English-only drivers license tests would only apply to immigrants who plan to become permanent residents, not to those just visiting.


The State Senate and State House have both passed slightly different versions of the bill.


They have until midnight Friday when this year's General Assembly session ends to work out a compromise before the bill can be sent to Governor Sonny Perdue for his signature.

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