Should illegal aliens get driver's licenses?

Townhall.com ^ | May 13, 2003 | Phyllis Schafly

[freeangel]

It is a trick question and it has trick answers too. One of my favorites in Georgia is that if we give ILLEGAL immigrants a license, they will then purchase car insurance.

[satan]

and your point is?

Driver license + motor voter = politician dream

[Mr. Bob]

Last month I renewed my driver license. They told me to bring my Social Security card, proof of insurance and $24.00. Renewed until 2009. I'm 81 years old so watch out.

[roadcat]

"I have known many illegal aliens while living in California. Most of the adults had driver's licenses, and they said they were easy to get as long as you paid the money. The going rate back then was $100 for a license. Those in the DMV can be paid off fairly cheaply, it seems. What about stricter control of that?"

In the past, I have seen DMV people get paid off for assisting others in getting a license without the tests and line-waits!

What's the big deal here? If state legislatures want to give driver licenses to illegal aliens, then let's charge them $2000 apiece. No money, no license, period. That money would help defray state expenses for many of the criminals locked up by the states, most of which are illegal aliens and not locked up just because they're illegal.

[jrushing]

INS public affairs officer Garrison Courtney identified one of the biggest problems: "If they were illegal when they came here, it's very difficult to determine who they really are because they've created illegal IDs for themselves."

When I moved to La. from Al., I had to show 3 forms of ID, proof of insurance, proof of residence (a utility bill to the address where I lived)! I had to show my marriage (license) certificate from Ala. because I only had an Ala. drivers license & a birth certificate for ID (I needed 3 ID's).
Has anyone (citizen) had to register a child in public school? Beside ID, proof of residence, child's soc sec # & birth certificate, you also need immunization records since birth!!

I have always been in awe of illegals who can access all of our government services (with what ID?). I wish I could easily get legal ID's as easy as those illegals get illegal ID's.

[not-an-ostrich]

No.

[jrushing]

get legal ID's as easy as those illegals get illegal ID's.

Which are apparently accepted as legal. The legal ID's are so much trouble to get!!

[tbpiper]

. . . in violation of law, shall be punished as provided . . . for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs . . . fined under title 18 . . . imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both."

Now that's not very considerate. Here in Florida, they don't need a license. They don't even need insurance, just a good pair of running shoes when they cause an accident. They don't need health insurance 'cause the overburdened hospitals have to treat them. They don't even need a green card. At least half the night crew at the Kash n Karry warehouse somewhere east of Tampa in a mostly rural town near the county line (hint, hint, hint INS) are not what you would call...um...full time citizens.

[DoughtyOne]

No one should be here illegaly. That's the answer to the license problem. Send illegals home.

[Joe Bfstplk]

They should be licensed only if they are driving back to their country of origin.

[Savage Beast]

Not only should illegal aliens not be allowed to obtain drivers licenses, but they should be apprehended when the apply for drivers licenses and expelled from the U.S.

[Zipporah]

Illegal aliens shouldn't get Jack SH**.. IN my humble opinion.

[dagnabbit]

Don't worry folks, the Bush administration will step in soon at the federal level and put an end to this foolishness.

/sarcasm

[FourPeas]

Of course the quick answer is no, but upon further thought who will drive all the cabs necessary to keep all the large citys moving?

[Eric Esot]

I actually faxed that statement to a contractor who laid off my son in favor of Manuel Labor. It took less than 24 hours for the contractor to change his personnel decision and call my son back on the job.

[sushiman]

I had a NY driver's license for many years , and kept re-newing it the whole time I was in Japan . The family and I went back in 1995 with the plan to live in NH , so I got a NH license . Due to health reasons , we had to return to Japan 6 months later . When the time came to re-new my NH license they wouldn't do it because I no longer had a residence in the state !!! Now , in order to get a NY license ( my parents reside there ; I am still in Japan )
I must take a defensive driver's course and the driving/written test which takes weeks . There just isn't time to do this when we drop in for a visit , so I have NO license now ! And I am an American citizen who had been driving without one single ticket for 30 years !

[MistrX]

Send 'em back.