NC House Committee Passes Bill Allowing Driver’s Licenses For Illegals

by William Teach | June 10, 2015 8:12 am

North Carolina already has a driver’s license for illegals given executive amnesty by Barack Obama. Other than driving, registering a vehicle, and purchasing vehicular insurance, they provide no lawful status. In order to register a vehicle, one must have a valid DL and valid insurance. In order to obtain a DL, one must have valid insurance. This applies regardless of immigration status. Now the NC House looks to offer this to all illegal aliens

(WRAL[1]) When a bill that would allow immigrants in the United States illegally to obtain limited driving privileges cleared the House Finance Committee Tuesday morning, Gregorio Morales and Carmen Rodriguez were among the folks sitting in the back of the room smiling.

Morales, who is originally from Mexico, has lived in the United States for 17 years – seven of those in North Carolina – and would be one of the people lining up for the new identity cards if House Bill 328 becomes law.

“I am a small-business owner. I have a landscape company,” Morales said shortly after the vote. He and his five employees would all benefit from the bill, he said.

“When you’re driving without a license, you always feel fear,” he said.

That’s right, at least two illegals were present, and they….weren’t detained. Despite admitting that not only were they present in the US illegally, but had been breaking other laws.

House Bill 328 would create a “restricted ID” for undocumented residents in North Carolina that would look different from a standard driver’s license. People obtaining one of the permits would need to undergo fingerprinting and background checks and prove their identity. Driving privileges would be attached to the restricted ID once applicants pass a state driving test and obtain liability insurance coverage.

While the bill cleared committee on a 22-11 vote, the measure is controversial, splitting Republicans in the House who are divided between encouraging people who are on the road anyway to get insurance and those who say the state should not provide public benefits to undocumented workers.

“What we want to do in this undocumented community is to separate those who are engaged in criminal activity from those who otherwise are not engaged in unlawful activity,” said sponsor Rep. Harry Warren, R-Rowan.

What’s the point of electing Republicans when they just act like Democrats? Some Republicans were dead set against this bill, including Governor McCrory.

Rep. Paul “Skip” Stam, R-Wake, pointed out that, in the case of an accident involving a driver without insurance, the other driver’s insurance bears the cost of damage and medical bills. Part of the insurance premiums drivers pay every month go toward covering such accidents.

It is a good point, and, if we look at this pragmatically, there are, unfortunately, too many who put roadblocks in the way of detaining and deporting the illegals, as well as stopping them in the first place.

As to the details of the bill[2], on page 11 line 23 we learn

The Division shall work with other State and local agencies on an ongoing basis to ensure that restricted drivers permits are not used to obtain public benefits for which only citizens and lawfully present persons are eligible

So, at least there is a provision blocking illegals from obtaining any benefits with the DLs. Whether this would be obeyed is another matter.

There is a long list of requirements and approved documents in order to obtain one of these special DLs, which would be marked as special. Passports are allowed, but no other document from an embassy (this is aimed directly at the Mexican consulate) would be allowed.

Possession of one of these special DLs cannot be used as basis to investigate nor detain the card holder.

They are only good for a period of one year, so, yearly renewal, which would certainly mean a yearly background check. And there is a long list of offenses which bar an illegal (and one would hope that this would mean immediate detention). However, things like “disturbing the public peace, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, worthless checks, misdemeanor larceny, shoplifting, or public drunkenness” do not disqualify.

Of course, this is all predicated on the bill actually making it on to the House floor for a vote, being passed in the Republican controlled House, then passing in the Republican controlled Senate, then avoiding a veto by the Governor.

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove[3]. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach[4].

Source URL: https://rightwingnews.com/illegal-immigration-2/nc-house-committee-passes-bill-allowing-drivers-licenses-for-illegals/

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