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.