Wisconsin Official seeks stricter driver license requirements
Wednesday, December 22, 2004 at 09:21PM
TheSpook
State Rep. Mark Gundrum thinks his bill makes sense: require immigrants
to have legal status in the United States before they can get Wisconsin
driver's licenses. Such a requirement would bolster public safety and
security from terrorists, said the Republican lawmaker from New Berlin.
But several Latino immigrants and advocates in southern Wisconsin think
such a law would hurt public safety. Undocumented immigrants would
continue to drive, they say, but without passing written and road tests
to prove they know how to drive legally. The issue resurfaced in recent
discussions about reforming the federal government's intelligence
gathering. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, Republican congressman from
Menomonee Falls, balked at a reform bill because he wanted a provision
to standardize how states grant driver's licenses. Wisconsin is one of
11 states that do not require an immigrant to have legal status-valid
visa, permanent residency or citizenship-to get a driver's license.
Wisconsin requires proof of name and birth date, such as a birth
certificate; proof of identity, such as a Social Security or credit
card, and proof of Wisconsin residency, such as a utility bill in the
applicant's name. [more]
Article originally appeared on (http://brownwatch.com/).
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