Thread: Analysis: Richardson defends undocumented immigrants license

Analysis: Richardson defends undocumented immigrants licenses
Barry Massey, Associated Press
Saturday, November 17, 2007

SANTA FE — Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson points to a substantial drop in uninsured motorists in New Mexico when he defends his decision four years ago to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver's license.

But the governor's use of his statistics is misleading.

The statewide decline in uninsured motorists has happened mainly because of a 2001 law that established an up-to-date computer database of insurance coverage and allowed the state to better police its requirement for liability insurance on cars and trucks.

That's the view of Ken Ortiz, director of the state Motor Vehicle Division, which licenses drivers and enforces the insurance mandate.

Granting licenses to undocumented immigrants - as well as foreign nationals living legally in the country - has helped reduce the number of uninsured motorists, Ortiz said. However, the improved database of automobile insurance coverage is the "bigger factor" in why the statewide rate of uninsured vehicles has dropped to 10 percent from 33 percent several years ago, he said.

During a presidential debate Thursday, Richardson said he supported granting driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants and explained why he signed legislation in 2003 that allowed that in New Mexico.

"My law enforcement people said it's a matter of public safety. What we need is public safety, a reduction in traffic fatalities. We wanted more people to be insured. When we started with this program, 33 percent of all New Mexicans were uninsured. Today, it's 11 percent," Richardson said in the debate in Las Vegas. "Traffic fatalities have gone down. It's a matter of public safety."

In citing the figures on uninsured motorists - during Thursday's debate and a weekend interview on Fox News - Richardson didn't mention the change in law that required insurance companies to electronically report coverage information directly to the state. With an up-to-date database, the state can quickly and accurately determine whether a car or truck has required liability insurance coverage.

Before that, Ortiz says, a driver could provide proof of insurance when registering a vehicle but then immediately drop coverage and continue to drive.

Now the state gets daily, weekly and monthly updates of coverage from insurance companies.

A private company was hired in late 2002 to maintain the database and early the next year the state began sending notices to motorists with cars or trucks without the required insurance coverage. Vehicle registrations were suspended for those who didn't obtain insurance.

Ortiz said 33 percent of registered vehicles lacked insurance when the improved insurance enforcement program began four years ago, but that rate has dropped to 10.4 percent, which he said is below the national average. There are nearly 1.7 million vehicles registered in the state.

Richardson took office in 2003, and signed a measure into law that allowed foreign nationals - including those living illegally in the country - to obtain a driver's license. Ortiz describes the licensing law as a success.

Before the state started issuing licenses to undocumented immigrants, Ortiz said, "we felt they were more likely to leave the scene of an accident, less likely to maintain insurance."

Applicants for a driver's license who don't have a Social Security number can present identification such as a tax identification number, a foreign passport or a Matricula Consular issued by the Mexican government.

About 45,000 licenses have been issued to people without a Social Security number. That's about 3.6 percent of all the licensed drivers in New Mexico. Ortiz assumes most of the 45,000 are foreign nationals, but the state doesn't know how many are illegal immigrants because immigration status information isn't collected by MVD.

In answering the debate question about illegal immigrants, Richardson was off-target in citing a decline in fatalities. There were 439 traffic deaths in 2003, 522 in 2004, 488 in 2005 and 484 in 2006, according to state records. During that time, New Mexico has tried to crack down on drunken driving - imposing tougher penalties and increasing police checkpoints to catch those who are intoxicated - and alcohol-related traffic deaths have dropped from 214 in 2003 to 191 in 2006. Traffic accidents in which alcohol wasn't a factor have increased from 225 in 2003 to 293 in 2006.
http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/nov/17 ... immigrant/

I watched the debates. When Richardson proclaimed he had arranged to issue licenses to illegals and that it was such a succes, I almost puked.

He neglected to say that he had to declare an emergency because of the illegals coming across the border. Anybody wonder what drew them.....

Richardson is Hispanic and although not all Hispanics are in favor of this illegal invasion, most of the Hispanic politicians are. He is no different.

Vicente Fox says that Richard is 'Mexican on the interior". I took this to mean that Richardson is thinking of Mexico rather than America.

Yes, unfortunately, many politician of Mexican descent are pro illegal. They want to be in position when the illegals get the votes. They have dreams of the Presidency, I'm sure.

Richardson is frothing at the mouth to be Shrillary's VP! He belongs in Mexico with the rest of his amigos!
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If he became Hillary's VP you can bet that his "comprehensive plan" would give legalization in under 8 years to solidify himself as the president of Amexico.

Everyone.........

Be sure to send this article to Representative Pete King---who is trying to push the new legislation that will deny states that give illegals drivers' licenses highway funding----as he was already asked about his legislation and Richardson's claims on Fox News today. King must not be aware yet that Richardson's claims are BS!!!

OK "Bren" good Idea!!

Well one good thing Richardson does not have a snowballs chance in hell of becoming president and I think Hillarys are slowly dwindling.

NM Governor Richardson allegedly holds DUAL US-Mexican citizenship, and if this is TRUE, it's NO wonder he panders to ILLEGALS!

This is from a speech that Richardson gave in 2006:

I got almost 70 percent of the vote for Governor this year in New Mexico – 15 percent more than in 2002 when I was first elected, and New Mexico is a swing state. This is after I implemented a policy to grant drivers licenses without regard to legal residency.

This should be more than enough evidence for an investigation into voter fraud! I would have a very hard time believing that this increase in voting percentage was due solely to his performance as governor.