New York's DMV License Changes Meet Opposition

By John Mooney

Members of the New York State Senate plan to introduce legislation next month to prohibit the state from issuing drivers licenses to immigrants staying in the country illegally.

The measure would require a social security number or proof of authorized presence in the U.S. in order to obtain a New York State license.

"The Senate has made its opposition to the Governor's plan very clear," Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said.

"We need to... deliver a strong message to the Governor that the people of this state oppose his plan. It must be stopped."

The legislation the Senate will take up next month is similar to bills proposed by State Senator Frank Padavan (Queens) that would require applicants for a driver's license (or non-driver identification card), to submit satisfactory proof to the DMV that the applicant's presence in the U.S. is authorized under federal law.

"I find the Spitzer administration's new policy in relation to the issuance of driver's licenses deeply troubling," Padavan said.

"This policy is much more than a step in the wrong direction; it is a step backwards in the efforts to bolster national security.

"Instead of strengthening the identification process for applicants of new driver's licenses, the new policy will open the flood gates and allow increased instances of fraudulent issuances of licenses throughout the state."

Mayor Mike Bloomberg also expressed concerns about the changes.

"I'm really skeptical that we should be issuing driver's licenses willy-nilly," Mayor Bloomberg said.

The chief concern among Republican leaders is that the new policy could potentially give terrorists access to a driver's license.

In most of the state's 62 counties, county clerks do not want to process the applications of undocumented immigrants.

For instance, Frank J. Merola, the county clerk of Rensselaer County, says he will not carry out the new policy.

"I am not going to process a driver's license for someone who cannot prove they are here legally," Merola said.

Meanwhile, Christine Anderson, a spokesperson for Governor Spitzer said: "The county clerks must respond and adapt to D.M.V. policy, and not doing so would be a flagrant violation of state law."

Last week, Governor Spitzer and DMV Commissioner David Swarts announced a policy change that would give all New Yorkers the opportunity to apply for driver licenses without regard to immigration status.

After a comprehensive review, the DMV developed changes that will increase the security of the license system by obtaining better and more verifiable information from applicants.

The changes are designed to help decrease the number of uninsured drivers on the roads, lower insurance rates for all drivers and, when necessary, help law enforcement agencies in their investigations.