Thread: Judge Rejects DMV Practice On Licenses

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/ ... TE=DEFAULT

Judge Rejects DMV Practice on Licenses

By MICHAEL GORMLEY
Associated Press Writer

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- The state Department of Motor Vehicles may not deny driver's licenses to immigrants who cannot prove they are in the United State legally, a judge has ruled.

The DMV has mailed letters to about 600,000 people statewide whose Social Security numbers could not be verified. About 252,000 haven't responded and would have been subject to license revocation. The state has 11.5 million licensed drivers.

Tuesday's ruling came in a lawsuit filed on behalf of five immigrants by the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund.

"Plaintiffs have faced and will continue to face serious injuries if these practices continue," state Supreme Court Justice Karen Smith wrote.

DMV Commissioner Raymond Martinez said the state will appeal. He said the agency imposed the restriction in 2002 to make sure drivers "are who they say they are." About 7,000 licenses were seized in the first months after the measure was put in place.

"New York state is fighting fraud and protecting New Yorkers from terrorism and other criminal acts," Martinez said. "Verifying a person's Social Security number is a common-sense and proven way to fulfill that important responsibility."

Department of Motor Vehicles: http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us

This one makes front page! http://www.alipac.us/article398.html