NM bill would limit illegal aliens to one-year driver permit
NM bill would limit illegal immigrants to one-year 'driver permits'
By Milan Simonich / Santa Fe Bureau
Posted: 01/31/2011 03:47:54 PM MST
SANTA FE - Undocumented immigrants no longer could obtain New Mexico driver's licenses that serve as government identification, but they could still drive legally under a compromise bill introduced today.
Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, proposed revoking the licenses of foreign nationals, then requiring them to obtain a one-year permit that would be good for driving only.
Rehm, a retired sheriff's deputy, said he wanted a stricter measure that would deny undocumented immigrants any driving permit or license.
"That wouldn't make it through this Legislature," he said in an interview.
Gov. Susana Martinez, a career prosecutor before being elected in November, has called on the Legislature to repeal the 2003 law in which people
NM CAPITOL REPORT
A view from the state capitol.
can obtain New Mexico licenses without providing proof of immigration status. Rehm's proposal HB 261, does not go as far as she wanted.
About 82,700 New Mexico driver's licenses have been issued to foreign nationals.
A spokesman for the state Motor Vehicles Division said today the licensing system does not distinguish which of those had proper immigration documents and which did not. In all, about 1.7 million people have state driver's licenses.
Legislators who pushed for allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain licenses said this would increase the number of drivers with auto insurance. Rehm said his plan for permits would still enable undocumented immigrants to buy insurance.
Eleven states once had laws allowing undocumented immigrants to receive driver's licenses. All but three have repealed those laws.
Utah issues permits for driving only. New Mexico and Washington state issue driver's licenses that also can be used as government identification, the type needed to board an airplane or enter a federal courthouse.
See Tuesday's edition for more details.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_17251248
Re: NM bill would limit illegal aliens to one-year driver pe
Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnDoe2
Legislators who pushed for allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain licenses said this would increase the number of drivers with auto insurance.
Oh brother...