Thread: Latino immigrants suddenly avoiding the DMV

Latino immigrants suddenly avoiding the DMV
Drop in numbers seeking drivers licenses pegged to new state law
By Steve Law

The Portland Tribune, Aug 6, 2008

Christopher Onstott, Tribune File Photo / Portland Tribune

With a passport and Brazilian drivers license in hand, Roberual Goncalues De Silva waits his turn in 2006 to apply for an Oregon drivers license at the popular DMV office at SE Powell Boulevard and 90th. A new state law requires Oregon drivers license applicants to prove they are in the state legally.
The number of Spanish-speaking people taking Oregon’s driving test plummeted in February, just as Gov. Kulongoski’s executive order took effect requiring test-takers to provide valid Social Security numbers.

In the Portland area and statewide, there was a jump in people taking the driving test in Spanish in the two months after Kulongoski issued his November order – but before it took effect Feb. 4, according to new data from the state Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division. The number of people taking the test in Spanish fell more than 80 percent after his order took effect.

State officials can’t think of any other reason to explain the pattern besides the governor’s order, said David House, DMV spokesman.

Critics of illegal immigration hailed the new data.

“I think that’s reflective of the fact that at one time Oregon had an open door for illegal aliens to get their drivers’ licenses from all over the United States,â€

Immigrants rights advocates said the law will harm Oregon’s economy by making it more difficult for undocumented workers to get to their jobs.

HUH!

Chicken Little says "the sky is falling, the sky is falling!"

Yeah, sure, we've all heard that one before...

One the immediate and empirical side of this - you can get in and out of a DMV in record time now (according to first-hand observation from a family member)

[quote]Immigrants rights advocates said the law will harm Oregon’s economy by making it more difficult for undocumented workers to get to their jobs.
“That means that little by little, they’re not going to do their work,â€

[quote="Ex_OC"][quote]Immigrants rights advocates said the law will harm Oregon’s economy by making it more difficult for undocumented workers to get to their jobs.
“That means that little by little, they’re not going to do their work,â€

Driver's license applicants number down, but unfortunately, those that are too afraid to go to DMV wil still get in their cars and drive, license or not!
And the state will lose revenue from DL fees, while local governments have to pay for the accident clean-ups.

Originally Posted by PhredE

Chicken Little says "the sky is falling, the sky is falling!"

Yeah, sure, we've all heard that one before...

One the immediate and empirical side of this - you can get in and out of a DMV in record time now (according to first-hand observation from a family member)

PhredE, congratulations on your state! Good governor! You must be so proud.

Here in Idaho, too, you have to have a SSN and proof of citizenship to get a DL. And ICE combs our jails. Sigh. I do feel so much safer now than I ever did in Mexifornia.

Originally Posted by vortex

Driver's license applicants number down, but unfortunately, those that are too afraid to go to DMV wil still get in their cars and drive, license or not!
And the state will lose revenue from DL fees, while local governments have to pay for the accident clean-ups.

It's not a perfect world, vortex, but IMHO, illegals leaving b/c they are having difficulty getting to work is near-perfect.

Mexifornia....

Re: Idaho - yeah, you guys are leading the way in the NW for sure.

Re: Kulongoski .... hmmm, actually... this is one of the few things he has got right lately. Overall, he's got a great resume, and solid background and ended up to be rather lukewarm in his record (IHMO). I would LIKE to like him more than I do, but it wouldn't be the first time a politician disappointed me either.

To Vortex - yes, those are definite possibilities and concerns. One thing that tends to counteract that somewhat, is that our driving-related rules tend to be enforced rather vigorously so that uninsured/unlicensed motorists get hammered pretty hard as a rule (eg. if they choose to 'drive anyway', if caught they'll loose their vehicles and likely even face some jail time too)

[quote:2506wjrl]vortex wrote:
Driver's license applicants number down, but unfortunately, those that are too afraid to go to DMV wil still get in their cars and drive, license or not!
And the state will lose revenue from DL fees, while local governments have to pay for the accident clean-ups.

It's not a perfect world, vortex, but IMHO, illegals leaving b/c they are having difficulty getting to work is near-perfect. [/quote:2506wjrl]

I think we need to focus less on losing tax-type revenues and more on getting the job done, particularly the part involving spending wisely.

Everyone might as well get used to the idea of belt-tightening and spending to straighten out the mess the politicians have made of our economy and our society as a whole. Even bringing cost up in this battle is counterproductive. Yes, the cost is going to be enormous, but do you think back-peddling or even treading water is going to reduce the costs? Suck it up people! What choice do you really have anyway?