New law, unintended result: taking legal immigrants off the road


Associated Press - December 15, 2007 10:55 PM ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A new Tennessee law aimed at keeping illegal immigrants from getting driver's licenses has left many legal immigrants suddenly unable to drive.

That includes some highly skilled workers from large international companies.

The law creates temporary driver's licenses that are issued only for the period an immigrant is legally authorized to be in the county. But they also cannot be issued for less than one year.

That has left immigrants with less than a year left on their visas unable to renew their expiring driver's licenses.

Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Deb Woolley says problems getting driver's licenses are a big issue for companies like Bridgestone, Nissan and Denso.

Gov. Phil Bredesen has vowed to fix the law, but that won't happen without the Legislature. Lawmakers go into session in January, but it could be months before a new version of the law is enacted.

Meanwhile, the Safety Department has set up a committee to review problems on a case by case basis.

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