[Infowarrior] - N.Y. Drops Citizenship Proof For Driver's Licenses

[Richard Forno]

N.Y. Drops Citizenship Proof For Driver's Licenses
Move Should Cut Down Unlicensed Illegal Immigrants

http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_264172034.html


Andrew Kirtzman
Reporting

(CBS) NEW YORK They were celebrating outside the governor's office Friday as
Eliot Spitzer handed a landmark victory to a half-million illegal
immigrants.

The state will no longer require proof of citizenship for driver's licenses.

"We're changing our policy with respect to getting more people out of
shadows and into the system so people don't hide they're here," Spitzer
said.

He said the current restrictions on non-citizens have filled the roads with
unlicensed drivers five times more likely to get into accidents.

But the also called it a matter of justice.

"As long as I'm governor we won't pretend they don't exist, cut them off
from society," Spitzer said.

But the action triggered a bitter response from some 9/11 family members,
who said the governor would be providing identification for potential
terrorists.

And a Brooklyn state senator says he'll try to overturn the decision.

"This governor has chosen to give the keys to the city, the keys to the
state to terrorism," Golden said.

As for the public, it's clear that people have strong feelings on both sides
of the issue.

"I don¹t think if you're here illegally you should have the same privileges
people who are here legally do," office manager Cliff Hoffman said.

Added legal word processor Bill Slater: "I think illegal people are getting
a free ride. I don't think it's fair to other hard-working citizens who do
work hard."

Planning consultant John Madden said the move is also a pre-emptive strike
against another type of potentially hazardous driver.

"The problem is they're gonna drive anyway," Madden said. "You might as well
make them legal drivers with insurance."

The new rules will start to kick in at the end of the year, unless someone
finds a way to put a halt to them.

Under the new policy, the Department of Motor Vehicles will accept foreign
passports and birth certificates from immigrants as proof of identification.
They will no longer need to provide a Social Security card.