Thread: Car registration: Should be citizens and legal residents?

We hear all this talk about denying illegal immigrants drivers license. I agree strongly.

But I think that we should also deny illegal aliens from car registration rights. Illegal aliens should not be allowed to obtain license plates for their cars.

1. The Department of Motor Vehicles should require proof of citizenship or legal residency of persons applying to register vehicles.

2. Also, those persons who allow illegals to drive their legally registered
vehicles should be punished with jail time and heavy fines.

3. Again, I say that if you are not a citizen or a legal resident, then you should NOT be allowed to register your vehicle and obtain license plates for your car. mirse

I totally agree with you.

Los Angeles freeways and roads are so overly congested that most folks organize their weekday activities around the ability to travel somewhere in X amount of time. And, of course, proposed solutions (bus express lanes, subways, toll roads, etc.) that would cost billions crop up during every local election. But no one ever mentions the elephant in the room: If you simply enforce current laws, and get everyone off the road who has no insurance, no license or no legal right to be in the country, you would have no more traffic problems in Southern California.

Originally Posted by SZinWestLA

Los Angeles freeways and roads are so overly congested that most folks organize their weekday activities around the ability to travel somewhere in X amount of time. And, of course, proposed solutions (bus express lanes, subways, toll roads, etc.) that would cost billions crop up during every local election. But no one ever mentions the elephant in the room: If you simply enforce current laws, and get everyone off the road who has no insurance, no license or no legal right to be in the country, you would have no more traffic problems in Southern California.

My husband constantly says the same thing about the elephant in the room...Illegals are destroying the whole state, but I guess it's not PC to acknowledge they are a problem.

Yes, but you have the people here "legally" on visas. Some states are tying the driver licenses to the visa expiration dates..which is good. But, I have no idea how many make sure that they have insurance coverage for the entire visa time. But, remember the people here on visas, are "legal" for the visa time frame. What ya gonna do there??

I agree with the idea on the surface.

I am afraid this could be another headache
for the legal citizen. If someone can not register a car
it does not mean that the car will not be driven by
an illegal or a criminal or both.
It carries the potential of your name be attached to
a vehicle used to commit a crime.

The vehicle might be report as sold and no longer
in your possession but the thought of having
my name on a car registration that is being used
to rob a bank is way scarier.

Yes I would agree also. When you mentioned this, I looked into it and was amazed to find out that you could be an illegal alien and obtain plates.

It is beyond insane how easy it is for an illegal alien from Mexico to get a driver's license, car registration and plates. They can just give fake liability in many states, most do not require any liability. Imagine the nightmare it is for people living in the southwest struck by an illegal alien from Mexico. I have heard they just flee back across the border scott free. Yet Americans have to shoulder the expensive burden of insurance premiums that are always rising.

Let's compare how hard it would be for an American to get a drivers license in Germany. First things first, you cannot be there illegally, so there is no direct comparison this way. In fact, I found NO other country in the world that will extend ANY rights whatsoever to an illegal alien. But just for the sake of comparison, here is what you have to do if you are a LEGAL US citizen in Germany LEGALLY:

RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS
The German Ministry of Transport in conjunction with the German Länder has approved exemptions to the practical (road) and theoretical (written) tests for license holders from: ALABAMA, ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, COLORADO, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW MEXICO, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON STATE, WISCONSIN, WYOMING AND PUERTO RICO.

License holders from these states can submit an application for a German driver's license directly to their local Stadtverwaltung (Führerscheinstelle). An applicant will usually be asked to present the following documents:

• an official identification document such as a passport;
• a residency registration certificate from the Einwohnermeldeamt;
• the original U.S. license together with a German translation;
• a statement by the applicant that the license is still valid, and
• a recent photograph (35mm x 45 mm).
• Documentation of a recent eye test is also often required.

another excerpt:

A U.S. license holder requiring a German license must contact a local German driving school which will provide information on the necessary paperwork and register the applicant for testing. Applicants do not need to take theoretical or behind-the-wheel lessons. However, driving schools recommend that applicants take one or two driving lessons in order to become acquainted with the skills to be tested. Total costs (without driving lessons) may average as much as EUR 425 for license holders from states with no reciprocal agreement with Germany.

Notice this is the cost for a LEGAL US citizen who has established residency AND has a US drivers license. $657 !

http://germany.usembassy.gov/germany/se ... cense.html

You will instantly be deported if you ar found to drive illegally in Germany. Also, all safety is placed squarely on the driver. So first and foremost in EVERY country except the US, you must be a legal resident.

mbrown wrote:

Some states are tying the driver licenses to the visa expiration dates..

Those states would be following one of the requirements of the Real ID Act of 2005.

Chosen wrote:

It is beyond insane how easy it is for an illegal alien from Mexico to get a driver's license, car registration and plates.

The Real ID Act will make it extremely difficult for illegal aliens to obtain a secure driver's license (identification documents will be verified).

Here in California half the cars are uninsured and most of those are driven by illegals who have no drivers licenses...Only Illegals can drive cars without licenses and no insurance and get away with it! The people in charge of this state are insane!

Originally Posted by mirse

We hear all this talk about denying illegal immigrants drivers license. I agree strongly.

But I think that we should also deny illegal aliens from car registration rights. Illegal aliens should not be allowed to obtain license plates for their cars.

1. The Department of Motor Vehicles should require proof of citizenship or legal residency of persons applying to register vehicles.

2. Also, those persons who allow illegals to drive their legally registered
vehicles should be punished with jail time and heavy fines.

3. Again, I say that if you are not a citizen or a legal resident, then you should NOT be allowed to register your vehicle and obtain license plates for your car. mirse

My neighbors license plates were just stolen...If illegals can't get them legally, they will just steal them off of some innocent Americans car.