Sunday, September 30

Is a driver's license a "privilege"?

From California voters support path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, say no to driver's licenses By Kevin Yamamura; according to a poll of registered voters:
56 percent of registered voters believe that illegal immigrants in California should not be able to get a driver's license, compared with 40 percent who said they should.
The article also cites Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, who says
roadways would be safer if undocumented workers obtain licenses because they would have to demonstrate driving skills and buy insurance.
That seems obvious to me. I just can't understand the opposition. But one opponent is cited as saying
If you're an illegal immigrant and can't go through the process of becoming legal, paying taxes and doing everything you're supposed to be doing, why should you get these privileges?
I guess the assumption is that if they don't get a license, illegal immigrants won't drive. Just making something illegal isn't going to stop it. Of course if that's the case, there's not much point in the idea of suspending someone's license as a punishment, either.

No comments: