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  1. #1
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    MVA moves to curb driver's license fraud

    http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bi ... _21-48/TOP




    MVA moves to curb driver's license fraud
    By SHANTEE WOODARDS, Staff Writer
    The Motor Vehicle Administration wants to change the documents required to get a driver's license, hoping to increase protection against fraud.

    If the changes are approved, the agency will no longer accept first-class mail and U.S. savings bonds, both commonly used as proof of residency.

    Instead, tax returns no more than 18 months old, government photo identification cards and U.S. school records and baptismal certificates would be accepted. Currently, school records and baptismal certificates are accepted from foreign countries.

    Applicants who are minors would need a parent to take certification under oath and present valid identification.

    The suggestions are a response to the 515 cases of fraudulent documents the agency handled last year - a 236 percent increase from 2003.

    MVA officials said reasons for these cases vary, but they've noticed an increase in fraudulent documents at their 10 locations that accept immigrants' applicants.

    Officials are reviewing the proposed changes and expect to announce a decision in about 30 days.

    "Fraud is an issue that has existed for a long time," said John T. Kuo, administrator of the Motor Vehicle Administration. "The MVA believes that the integrity of Maryland driver's licenses and identification cards will remain secure in the next decade and beyond."

    By 2008, all motor vehicle agencies need to be in compliance with the federal Real ID Act. The law requires all agencies to use documents that can be authenticated or verified when issuing driver's licenses or identification cards. It will take effect nationwide on May 11, 2008.

    The administration also wants to make some changes in its immigrant application process. Currently, non-English speakers apply for licenses and permits by making an appointment at select locations.

    The new procedures would allow foreign applicants with valid federal government identification - a U.S. visa, employment authorization card or permanent resident card - to go to any full-service branch office. There also would be additional staff members to help workers identify fraudulent documents.

    The administration and the Department of Transportation came under fire last year after a group of Latino immigrants filed a class-action lawsuit against the agencies, saying they failed to meet the needs of the Spanish-speaking community.

    Officials at CASA of Maryland, which filed the lawsuit, said the new guidelines would cause even more problems. Executive Director Gustavo Torres predicted that the new rules might cause undocumented immigrants to drive illegally without licenses.

    "What is going to happen is they're going to have thousands and thousands of people driving without a license," Mr. Torres said. "They're not going to leave the state. They're going to stay here, keep working and keep giving rides to kids."

    Alfredo's Driving School offers bilingual classes in Annapolis. Owner Willians Castillo also guides his clients through the process of getting their licenses.

    But he said the process can be difficult with the language barrier.

    "A lot of my clients have school records and baptismal (certificates) from the original country and everyone uses a savings bond," Mr. Castillo said. "It's very complicated now for Spanish-speaking people to get licenses."




    Published July 21, 2006, The Capital, Annapolis, Md.
    Copyright © 2006 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.

    Copyright © 2006 The Capital
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  2. #2
    Senior Member Skippy's Avatar
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    I am so glad to hear that Maryland is finally attempting to do something regarding illegals receiving a driver's license.

    If the changes are approved, the agency will no longer accept first-class mail and U.S. savings bonds, both commonly used as proof of residency.
    Recently I took my 16 year old grandson into the MVA to get a learner's permit. As legal citizens and residents of Maryland, we had to show the MVA his birth certificate, his school ID Card with picture, my legal guardianship paper from the court and my driver's license. Yet, all the illegal immigrant needs to show as proof of residence is first class mail and U.S. Savings Bonds to get a driver's license. Go figure.

  3. #3
    Senior Member gofer's Avatar
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    Executive Director Gustavo Torres predicted that the new rules might cause undocumented immigrants to drive illegally without licenses.
    (Go figure, it's just a law...ignore it, like everything else.)

    I don't know whether to laugh or cry or laugh until I cry at the stupidy of this statement. I still can't wrap my mind around all this defense of ILLEGAL aliens and talk about their driving, etc. I wasn't that many years ago, that outside the Border States, it was a HUGE deal to hear about an Illegal Alien and it would have been a real shocker to hear about their driving. We have collectively gone insane.

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