http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section=38&screen=newsprint&news_id=32642
Nashville City Paper
Driver's certificates: Logic meets the streets
April 27, 2004
Gov. Phil Bredesen split the difference on allowing illegal aliens to get
driver's licenses, and his solution is a good one.
Bredesen is proposing legislation that will allow only U.S. citizens and
lawful permanent residents of the United States to get Tennessee driver's
licenses.
The administration says it will be the toughest driver's license policy in
the nation. It's nice to finally be first in something desirable.
But the Bredesen administration has also answered the question of what to
do with illegal aliens working in Tennessee who operate motor vehicles. The
argument for issuing them driver's licenses has always been that at least
the state can be sure they know our rules of the road which are so often
completely different from their countries of origin.
Bredesen has proposed that the state issue a "certificate of driving" to
those who either have temporary, legal documents to work or go to school
here or to those who can prove their identity and residence in Tennessee.
The certificates cannot be used as legal identification so, for example,
the bearer of a certificate could not use it to board a plane or rent a car.
Toughening up our driver's license requirements and finding a way to
accommodate those who don't meet requirements for citizenship is a good
compromise.
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R. A. Hettinga