Statement from Assemblyman Steve Hawley on the Assembly Transportation Committee’s passage of a bill granting driver’s licenses to undocumented individuals:
“This is a dangerous proposal that diminishes the responsibility and efforts of those here legally to play by the rules, obey our laws and obtain a driver’s license.
“This creates myriad issues for law enforcement and illegal drivers obtaining insurance, not to mention the safety issue posed on our roads that will be faced by other drivers unsure if the person next to them is familiar with traffic procedures and laws that keep us all safe.
“For the Majority to waste time on legislation that, when polled, is opposed by 61 percent of the public statewide, is a total waste of time and insulting to the struggling middle class who need our help in these waning days of session.
“Whether this is a political stand against President Trump, or an effort to score points with their radical base. We should never reward those with handouts who have already proved to break the law.”
This situation is a bit more
This situation is a bit more complex than the simplistic "them feriners don't deserve licenses" framing Hawley is using...
Studies have show that when illegal aliens are given the opportunity to get drivers licenses the roads become safer. Like citizens and legal residents, they study for the test and learn how to drive more safely. If they are prohibited from getting licenses, some of the incentives of learning how to drive safely are removed, and the unlicensed drivers are more of a hazard.
Ironically, Hawley references this in his statement - “This creates myriad issues for law enforcement and illegal drivers obtaining insurance, not to mention the safety issue posed on our roads that will be faced by other drivers unsure if the person next to them is familiar with traffic procedures and laws that keep us all safe." If illegals are allowed to get licenses, they will have learned the rules of the road. Without a license, there is truly uncertainty.
I've been torn about this myself, but in the long run I'd rather see everybody on the road having been properly trained.
Tim, I could not agree more.
Tim, I could not agree more. They are driving now without a license anyways. Our leaders have never solved the illegal probem and probably never will. It has been around since Reagan. So assuming they will be with us, and they are residents of NY, they should be required ot take the permit tests, and the road driving tests. They should get Insurance, Buy Cars, and pay sales tax when they fill it up. Just like everyone else. I feel the politicians have overplayed this bill, and made it sound worse than it actually is. The key is they need to be permanent residents of NY. We do not need half of South America flooding up to NY to get a Drivers License. I do not know how many there are, does anyone??
People are only here
People are only here illegally because we don't have adequate laws to meet our legitimate immigration needs. We make it impossible for an adequate number of immigrants to come here legally. Our current laws are arbitrary and capricious. So we want to punish people for coming here because they want to make better lives for themselves and their families and help our economy grow and thrive. This is not how free markets are supposed to work. There's nothing conservative about our current immigration policy and our demonizing of immigrants.
Back when I got my driver's
Back when I got my driver's license I had to show proof of who I was. I kind of remember having to produce a birth certificate and a social security card. I wonder if that is the case today.. Maybe today you can go to the DMV and swear on the bible or any book of your choice that you are who you say you are and.......... ding ding ding "Albany" sends you a drivers license. I'm not too sure about this.... I think it opens doors to fraud.. Tell me How do you produce a driver's license identification for anyone who can Not prove who they are?
Sorry. Illegal is illegal.
Sorry. Illegal is illegal. And if you come in for a drivers license and are an illegal, the DMV personnel should be directed to call the INS.
I find myself agreeing with
I find myself agreeing with Tim, Howard and Fred. I too, struggled with this topic and still do to some extent. I spend a lot of time on our roads, and I often wonder how many people ever received their licenses in the first place. I am all in favor of safer roads.
Add as Fred says, it is a case of politicians overplaying a bill. And anyone who follows TheBatavian knows that Hawley is a master of press releases and overplaying issues.
When a person insures their
When a person insures their vehicle there is the SUM, which covers you when dealing with people without insurance. Giving a drivers license to somebody doesn't make anyone safer.
Venezuela is just the latest
Venezuela is just the latest victim of our exploitation of the peoples of the Americas. Any time someone with the good of their people gains any traction our deep state entities make sure to grease their tires. Let the people of those countries alone to partake of the bounty of their own country and the migration north will cease. And Howard, our country doesn't need any immigrants, it needs the young strong backs of our youth who are wasted on the military.