Bredesen’s plan to restrict driver’s licenses advances
NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen’s legislative effort to restrict who can get Tennessee driver’s licenses is on the move through the Legislature.
The measure, approved Wednesday in the Senate Transportation Committee and Tuesday in the House Government Operations Committee, would offer two types of driving documents.
One is the regular driver’s license, available to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. The other is called a “certificate of driving” that cannot be used for identification purposes such as getting aboard an airplane, buying a gun, or renting a vehicle.
It will document only that the holder is qualified to operate a motor vehicle and will look distinctly different from a driver’s license.
A proposed version shown to lawmakers has the words “NOT VALID FOR I.D.” in bold yellow letters taking up more than a quarter of the certificate. Also, it specifies at the bottom that “this document serves only as proof that the bearer has demonstrated the ability to operate a motor vehicle under the laws of the state of Tennessee and is not valid for identification purposes.”
Several lawmakers have been attempting to change the law since it was altered in early 2001 to allow illegal immigrants to get licenses, including Sen. Bill Ketron, R-Murfreesboro, who is now sponsoring the governor’s legislation.
“Tennessee will have the strictest driver’s license policy in the nation,” he told committee members.
Currently, Tennessee is developing a reputation around the nation as a haven for non-citizens who could not get licenses in other states. Federal officials raided a Nashville driving school earlier this month and arrested 25 illegal immigrants they believe were in the state solely to get driver’s licenses.
The driving certificate will be available to two kinds of non-citizens: People who are legally but temporarily in the United States and those who can prove only their identity and their residence in Tennessee.
Those issued to temporary residents will coincide with the length of their legal residency. Certificates for those who cannot prove they are in the country legally will be good for one year.
The certificates will be available at a limited number of the state’s 43 driver license stations. Deputy Safety Commissioner Tom Moore said it will be based on locations where large numbers of immigrants have previously sought licenses.
He also said the department will try to track down some 8,000 illegal immigrants with Tennessee driver’s licenses and replace them with driving certificates.
Maj. Gen. Jerry Humble, director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, said the bill is part of a larger anti-terrorism program.
“We’re sending a signal to anybody who wishes to do us harm, ‘Don’t come to Tennessee,'” he said after the bill was unanimously approved in the Senate committee.
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On the Net:
Read SB3430/HB3486 at http://www.legislature.state.tn.us