Thread: A solid 'no go' to licenses for illegals

http://ebs.gmnews.com/news/2006/0316/Ed ... s/015.html

A solid 'no go' to licenses for illegals


State representatives should reject a proposal put forth by Assembly-man Joseph Vas (D-Middlesex) that would, if signed into law, permit illegal aliens to drive legally in New Jersey.

The bill would allow illegal aliens and other people who cannot comply with the state Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) six-point rule to drive in New Jersey and to purchase auto insurance, which is required of all drivers.

Several years ago there was a very good reason why the MVC instituted a significant change in the way it issues a driver's license to an individual. That reason was Sept. 11, 2001.

We should not have to recount all the horrors of that beautiful Tuesday morning for Americans to understand that security remains this nation's top priority. America's military continues its mission around the world in the war against terrorism.

With the need for better security in place, officials decided that in order to renew or obtain a driver's license, applicants would have to prove they are who they claim to be. That led to the development of what is known as the MVC's six-point rule. The six-point rule requires people who are applying for a driver's license to produce documents that establish their identity. Different forms of ID are assigned point values (primary documents and secondary documents), and a person applying for a driver's license must have enough documents in the appropriate categories to add up to the six points that are needed to receive a license.

The type of documents required should be readily available to most people who are in the United States legally and conduct business of the type that most people of driving age would conduct.

The documents include, but are not limited to, a civil birth certificate from one of the 50 states, the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory; a U.S. passport; a certificate of naturalization; a certificate of citizenship; a U.S. school photo ID card with transcript or school records; a U.S. college photo ID with transcript; a valid federal, state or local government employee photo ID card; a Social Security card; a state professional license; and a N.J. public assistance card with photo.

Vas claims his proposal, dubbed the New Jersey Driving Privilege Card, serves the interest of both the economy and security of New Jersey. He said the law would increase driver safety and help reduce insurance costs by requiring drivers who might otherwise drive without a license to purchase auto insurance. The card would carry the same privileges and responsibilities as a driver's license with respect to the operation of a motor vehicle. It would also feature a digital photo of the card's holder taken by the MVC.

New Jersey has thousands of illegal immigrants living and working here, and taking advantage of this state's educational, health care and social services systems, in most cases with no questions asked.

It is time to start asking questions and stop blaming ourselves for the difficulties faced by people who chose to break our laws in coming here. The times in which we live make the MVC's identification system a priority.

One argument against the institution of a driving privilege card in New Jersey is the experience of Tennessee. Motor vehicle administrators in that state began issuing certificates for driving to illegal aliens in July 2004 and ended the practice in February after determining people were using fraudulent documents to obtain the certificates, according to an article from the Los Angeles Times published on latimes.com.

Illegal aliens. Fraudulent documents. Drivers who have no business being on our roads. Enough said. We do not need to see the Tennessee mistake repeated in New Jersey, as it most certainly would be. This state has become a magnet for illegal aliens and dangling the carrot of an easily obtainable driver's license would be another incentive for more illegal immigration we do not need.

Illegal aliens. Fraudulent documents. Drivers who have no business being on our roads. Enough said.