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September 21, 2007
New York Does the Right Thing: All Drivers to be Eligible for Licenses
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner David Swarts today announced an administrative policy change that will give all New Yorkers the opportunity to apply for state driver licenses without regard to immigration status. Tied to the policy change, the Governor and Commissioner also announced plans to implement a new regime of anti-fraud measures to increase the security of the licensing system as a new population of New Yorkers comes into the system. The DMV estimates that tens of thousands of undocumented, unlicensed and uninsured drivers are currently on New York’s roads, contributing to increased accidents and hit-and-runs as well as higher auto insurance rates. In addition, bringing more New Yorkers into the system will ensure a greater number of people have a license record that, if necessary, can be used to enhance law enforcement efforts.
For the press release, click here.
UPDATE: For a discussion of the varied reactions to the change in policy, including support from some conservatives, click here.
KJ
September 21, 2007 | Permalink
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Comments
Of all the illegal aliens in this country Hispanics are the worst drivers, mainly due to drinking and driving (see below). Issuing driver's licenses to them will not solve that threat to public safety. And illegal aliens can hardly afford the cost of insuring their automobiles, so they'll continue to pose a problem for the general public. Giving such documents to illegal aliens conveys to them a legitimacy they have not earned, and is pandering to the socialist advocacy groups. The honest truth is that this is just another way of gaining illegal aliens a univerally accepted means of identification.
Southern California Research Institute
Ferguson, S. A., Burns, M. M., Fiorentino, D., Williams, A. F., & Garcia, J. (2002). Drinking and driving among Mexican American and non-Hispanic White Males in Long Beach, California. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 34, 429-437. http://www.scri.org/index_files/CulturalDifferencesinDrinkingandDriving.htm
Although drinking and driving in the United States has declined substantially during the past two decades, this trend has not been seen among Hispanic drivers. Higher rates of driving while impaired (DWI) arrests and alcohol-related crashes, particularly among Mexican Americans, also have been noted. The extent to which this reflects a lack of understanding of DWI laws rather than a disregard for them is unknown. A survey was conducted among Mexican American and non-Hispanic white male DWI arrestees in Long Beach, California, to ascertain alcohol use, attitudes toward drinking and drinking and driving, and knowledge of DWI laws. The findings were compared with those of Mexican American and non-Hispanic white males recruited from the local community. Mexican American males, both DWIs and those from the community, reported heavier drinking than non-Hispanic white males. All four groups of respondents tended to underestimate the number of drinks needed to achieve the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) threshold at or above which it is illegal to drive under California law. Estimations were around 2-3 drinks rather than a more realistic estimate of 4-5 drinks. However, Mexican American DWIs and their comparison group vastly overestimated the number of drinks to make them unsafe drivers (8- 10 drinks). Furthermore, fewer than half were aware of the BAC threshold in California (0.08%) compared with between 60 and 78% of non-Hispanic whites. This study is limited in scope and needs to be replicated in other communities and with other racial/ethnic groups. However, the clear lack of knowledge of the DWI law in California and a lack of understanding of the relationship between number of drinks and BAC point to the need for culturally sensitive programs that are developed and implemented within the Mexican American community.
Posted by: Horace | Sep 21, 2007 9:52:03 PM
This study is limited in scope and needs to be replicated in other communities and with other racial/ethnic groups.
Wonder if they ever did that follow up survey. Something tells me no.
Posted by: yave begnet | Sep 22, 2007 7:42:38 PM
"Something tells me no."
Could that be your deep seated bias speaking to you?
Posted by: Horace | Sep 23, 2007 10:53:43 PM
Not so fast, professor, not everyone is accord with the governor, including New York City mayor Bloomberg.
Bloomberg criticizes Spitzer's driver's license plan http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/09/27/2007-09-27_mayor_bloomberg_criticizes_spitzers_driv.html
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BY JOE MAHONEY and ADAM LISBERG
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Thursday, September 27th 2007, 4:00 AM
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Gov. Spitzer's plan to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants ran into more trouble yesterday, and not just from his opponents.
Mayor Bloomberg, a frequent ally of Spitzer, said city lawyers think the plan wouldn't meet new federal ID requirements, so New Yorkers couldn't use their licenses to enter federal buildings or go through airport security.
"People would need other government ID, generally a passport, and that would be a very big problem," said Bloomberg, who has already talked to Spitzer about his concerns. "The state's going to have to work with the federal government in terms of having to fix that problem."
Spitzer spokeswoman Christine Anderson said Bloomberg "was a little bit confused" about the governor's proposal, because the federal law doesn't take effect until 2013 and none of the 50 states comply with it yet.
Spitzer has said his plan would make roads safer because all immigrant drivers could get licenses and insurance, whether or not they were here legally.
Immigrants without Social Security cards could apply for New York driver's licenses using foreign identity documents, which would be rigorously scanned for authenticity by high-tech devices, Anderson said.
While she insisted Spitzer could move ahead with his plan without the backing of the Legislature, Senate Homeland Security Chairman Vincent Leibell (R-Brewster) insisted the new licensing scheme was dead on arrival in Albany.
"Just because you change a regulation doesn't mean you change our statute," Leibell said, citing a 1995 law, aimed at cracking down on deadbeat dads, that requires license applicants to show a valid Social Security number.
"The governor's idea is a terrible one that would lower the security of all New Yorkers and all Americans. We're getting an amazing response from the people who are overwhelmingly against this."
Sen. Hugh Farley (R-Schenectady) was even more strident, saying the Spitzer directive amounts to "hanging a 'Welcome terrorists' sign at the state's borders."
Posted by: George | Sep 27, 2007 10:07:56 PM
I think it's interesting how few people have commented on the problems that Tennesee, North Carolina, Utah and Maine had in enacting licensing laws similar to the one that Spitzer has proposed.
Everything from DMW officials taking kickbacks from illegal immigrants to issue licenses, to 65 illegals claiming to live in the same apartment, to newspaper ads being placed in papers promising to help people get licenses. Some of these resulted in a repeal of the licensing laws althogether. Others lead to a 2-tiered licensing system.
Maybe Spitzer should do his research so that if he does in fact proceed, he avoids some of the disasters that other states have encountered. Of course, then he would have to admit that he does not in fact know everything.
Posted by: Emma | Oct 5, 2007 3:54:04 PM
Mad? Go to wgy.com. Under "on air" click on Al Roney. On the right hand side he has info on this--and a link to a forum that a listener started. They are talking about a rally in Albany on 10/22. If you are interested, join the discussion. If you can't make it, spread the word.
Posted by: DisgustedUpstateNYer | Oct 6, 2007 3:59:56 PM
