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OREGON LEGISLATURE

Driver's license bill draws testimony from many

Opponents say the plan isn't necessary to fight terrorism

THELMA GUERRERO
Statesman Journal

February 23, 2007

A bill that would require all people seeking driver's licenses to prove citizenship or legal status drew passionate testimony Thursday from those who saw the plan as either an infringement of rights or necessary to prevent terrorism and crime.

So many people, including families, children, farmworkers and professionals, attended the hearing on Senate Bill 424 that the spill-over crowd had to be moved to an adjoining room at the Capitol. More than 30 people signed up to testify.

The Senate Business, Transportation and Workforce Development Committee took no action on the bill.

Supporters say it is needed to help fight terrorism, the methamphetamine problem, and prevent illegal immigrants from getting Oregon driver's licenses.

"In fact, the major (goal) of people who sell methamphetamine is having the Oregon driver's license," said Jim Ludwick, the president of Oregonians for Immigration Reform, who testified at the hearing. "It gives them a pass to go up and down I-5 and distribute methamphetamine."

Opponents say the proposal would infringe on civil liberties, increase the state's cost of issuing driver's licenses and add to the number of uninsured drivers on Oregon's roads.

"Thousands of farmworkers and other undocumented immigrants won't be able to drive to work legally," said Aeryca Steinbauer, the coordinator for CAUSA, an immigrant-rights advocacy group.

The bill would amend the Oregon vehicle code to bring the state into compliance with federal law known as the Real ID Act.

The act, based on recommendations from the 9/11 commission, sets a national standard for verifying the identity of license applicants and requires states to link their record-keeping systems to national databases. It would apply to all people seeking new driver's licenses or renewals.

Congress has appropriated only $40 million to help states implement the federal rule, and cost was an issue at Thursday's hearing. State motor vehicles staff said it was not yet known what it would cost Oregon.

But according to a study by the National Governors Association and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, implementation could cost states as much as $11 billion.

Still, without adequate money and guidelines from the federal government, state driver's license security is at a stand still, said Loran Youngs, an administrator with Oregon's Driver and Motor Vehicles Services Division.

"Therefore, we ask for the greatest flexibility possible to implement the Real ID Act," Youngs told the committee.

Attempts to repeal the Real ID Act at the Congressional level are gaining momentum.

In Oregon, the American Civil Liberties Union has joined a multi-state effort opposing implementation of the federal act and bills such as SB424 based on cost, civil liberties and ID theft concerns.