Governor files bill allowing illegal immigrants to legally drive
NASHVILLE (AP) — Illegal immigrants in Tennessee soon may be prohibited from getting driver’s licenses but could get ‘certificates for driving’ under legislation introduced Thursday by Gov. Phil Bredesen.
Bredesen says he’s trying to balance homeland security concerns with public safety. But the bill may not be enough for some lawmakers who don’t want any such documents issued to illegal immigrants.
‘I’m going to take a hard look at it. We made a mistake in 2001 and we don’t want to repeat that mistake,’ said Rep. Donna Rowland, R-Murfreesboro.
She has been fighting to repeal a law that allowed anyone who could prove Tennessee residency, whether they were in the country legally or not, to get a driver’s license. After a flood of illegal immigrants applied for licenses, the state did attempt to tighten the law the following year, but some felt it didn’t go far enough, particularly in the wake of Sept. 11.
Jerry Humble, the state’s homeland security director, said changes in the driver’s license law are necessary because ‘there’s increasing evidence Tennessee is seen as a destination for people attempting to fraudulently obtain licenses.’
There are some who want to make sure people driving on Tennessee roads know what they’re doing and believe drivers should have to take a test to prove they know the rules.
So the governor’s legislation would provide for three types of drivers: citizens, legal immigrants and undocumented aliens.
— Citizens would continue getting their regular licenses, good for five years.
— Legal immigrants would get a license valid only during the time they are authorized to be in the country. If there’s no date for their exit, the license would be good for a year.
— Drivers who cannot produce documentation proving they are legally in the U.S. could get a one-year certificate that is ‘clearly distinguishable’ from a driver’s license and says something like ‘for driving purposes only — not valid for identification.’
Current law allows a driver who does not provide a Social Security number or proper immigration documents — but who has proof of Tennessee residency and two forms of identification — to receive a license. They must sign affidavits saying they weren’t issued a Social Security number, and in the spaces for the number it says ‘none provided.’
The administration also plans to make the process of getting a license easier for legal immigrants by offering the driver’s tests in more languages and by creating an ombudsman position within the Department of Safety to help when issues arise.
‘The public safety of Tennesseans is our highest priority, but we must also establish a more consumer-friendly approach to working with the ever-changing face of our community,’ Safety Commissioner Fred Phillips said.
Humble said Tennessee’s policies should be consistent with those of other states, but Rowland said she knows of no others that allow illegal immigrants to legally drive their roads.
‘I don’t want to be giving out a document that gives the impression of being here legally to those who are not here legally,’ she said.
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On the Net:
Tennessee Department of Transportation: http://www.tdot.state.tn.us