Governor proposes tougher, two-tier driver’s license plan
NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Phil Bredesen this week will submit to the Legislature what he calls the nation’s most restrictive driver’s license policy.
Bredesen proposed a change to the state’s driver’s license law earlier this year; the new version is slightly more restrictive.
Several lawmakers have been attempting to change the law since it was altered in early 2001 to allow illegal immigrants to get licenses. Advocates of the law said since the immigrants were driving on the state’s roads anyway, everybody would be safer if they knew the rules.
But that was before the terrorist attacks of 9-11 and the intensive focus on homeland security and documentation of non-citizens. In the interim, according to state officials, Tennessee has become known around the nation as a haven for non-citizens who could not get licenses in other states. Federal officials raided a Nashville driving school this week and arrested 25 illegal immigrants they believe were in the state only to get driver’s licenses.
“Protecting Tennesseans is my highest priority,” Bredesen said in a news release announcing the changes. “When it became clear to me the federal government was not going to provide some uniformity on this issue as I had hoped, I felt it was necessary to take a strong stand to ensure we’re providing the highest level of safety to our citizens, both in homeland security and in public safety.”
The amended version of Bredesen’s plan will 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 “driving certificate” that cannot be used for identification purposes, such as getting aboard an airplane. It will document only that the holder is qualified to operate a motor vehicle and will look distinctly different from a driver’s license.
The 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.
The change in this latest version of the governor’s proposal is to put the legal-but-temporary residents into the “certificate” category.
The certificates issued to temporary residents will coincide with the length of their legal residency. For example, those with three-year student visas will get a certificate valid for three years.
The certificates for those who cannot prove they are in the country legally will be good for one year.
“We have closed the door on terrorists and other individuals who try to fraudulently obtain legal identification in our state,” said Maj. Gen. Jerry Humble, director of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security. “Homeland Security is serious business in Tennessee, and this legislation is an important component of our coordinated plan.”
Humble called the certificates “a responsible way to ensure safety on our streets and interstates. They cannot be used to board a plane, purchase weapons, rent a car or truck or to provide a form of identification in any way. They also provide our state the ability to keep track of individuals who reside temporarily in Tennessee and drive on our roads.”
The new driver’s license restrictions would take effect immediately upon becoming law. The new certificates would be issued after July 1, 2004.
Administration officials said they intend to introduce the new plan as an amendment to Bredesen’s original bill next week in committees in both the House and Senate.