In the Texas Tribune, there's an article about a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's permits after paying about $150 in fees, get fingerprints and backgrounds checks.
House Bill 3206 by state Rep Roberto Alonzo would require that applicants pass a driving test to get the document, which would allow holders to legally register their vehicles and obtain auto insurance.
Republican opponents fear the bill will encourage illegal immigration but they need to know that it's only a driving permit and also the licenses would be labeled to say that the immigrants are not legal residents, and the identification could not be used to board a plane, vote or to obtain public benefits.
Immigration has always been a controversial topic, some people don't agree with this bill but I think it's a good thing because there are more than 1.6 million immigrants in Texas and many of them drive, issuing them driving permits would make Texas roads safer and would allow the state to keep better track of who is driving.
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo is in favor of the bill, he says "It will absolutely enhance safety. There is nothing more frustrating than being hit by an individual and when you go to exchange information, there is no ID." It goes toward helping them to investigate all crime because now they have a picture and of course fingerprints. It's just safer for everyone and we are all more protected!
"It's a law enforcement, a security, a common sense bill."
Helen Hernandez wrote about the common sense bill, HB3206. The bill is to allow illegal immigrants a chance to get a drivers license and then also be able to get automobile insurance for their vehicles. It is also stated that there will be a something on the license saying that it is strictly for driving and will not allow them to board planes. The person will be fingerprinted, have a background check and pay a fee of about $150.00.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Helen that this will be a useful bill to pass. Not only will it be good for safety by having these cars registered and insured there will be less of a chance that the uninsured motorist will run from the scene since they have the proper identification and insurance to cover them. This may also cut down on the amount of claims to insurance companies because of uninsured motorists. It will also bring in more money for the state. As Helen stated, “there are more than 1.6 million immigrants in the state of Texas and many of them drive”. If even a quarter of them opt to sign up for this, it will be worth it.
I have been hit by an uninsured motorist and was not aware that there was a specific type of insurance that you had to cover if you wanted your vehicle fixed. If this bill is passed I think it may help. At least a little bit.
In light of the ongoing immigration reform debate in Washington, I feel this is an important topic to comment on. While I agree with Helen, there are few more points I like to make that Helen didn’t mention in her blog. For example, missing in her blog from the Texas Tribune’s article is an important comments of Norm Adams, the Republican co-founder of Texans for Sensible Immigration Policy, that how several local business are facing challenges because some of their undocumented employees not able to renew their commercial driver’s licenses. This bill will allow more legal and insured drivers in Texas highways and hence enhance the safely of our roads.
ReplyDeleteHelen also didn’t note that the amount of money that will be raised from the fines can be used to recruit more enforcement officers and increase highway safety.
Helene correctly pointed out that the bill will not encourages the illegal immigrants to come Texas because it is just a driving permit and couldn’t be used for federal identification purpose such as airport security. In this regard, I would like to add that illegal immigrants don’t come to a place just for the opportunities to drive legally. They come mostly for economic reasons such as better opportunities for employment, and also the opportunities to rejoin with their loved ones. So having the opportunities to drive legally will not play any role to increase the number of illegal immigrants in Texas.
In conclusion, letting undocumented immigrants drive legally is not a question of immigration, it’s a question of safety.
I agree with Helen’s comment about HB 3206, which would allow illegal immigrants a chance to get a permit to drive on Texas roads and have their vehicles insured. This bill also states that the driving permit will be strictly for driving and it will not allow anyone the right to board planes, vote or have other rights and privileges that belong only to U.S. citizens. The person entitled to this permit will be fingerprinted, have a background check and pay a fee of about $150.00. I think that Texas’s roads would be definitely safer because the undocumented immigrants who will get driving permits would have to know the traffic laws, understand our roads signs in English and be forced to have insurance at all times. I have heard many stories about accidents where one of the people involved in the crash runs off because he or she is afraid of being caught without legal documentation and insurance. I believe this bill would prevent those kinds of situations.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, our police officers would have the fingerprints of this group of drivers and they would have the results of their background checks which will facilitate their job if they need to find or arrest any of these individuals. This bill doesn’t represent a change in their immigration status at all; it will only allow illegal immigrants the right to buy car’s insurance. This will also benefit the State in terms of finances after all. As Helen mentioned, “there are more than 1.6 million immigrants in the state of Texas and many of them drive”. If even a few of them decide to sign up for this, it will be worth it.