Proposal for Drivers Licenses in New York State
If I am elected I propose that there be three requirements to obtain a New
York State Drivers License. One must:
1. Pass the written test in one of the 16 languages offered for the test.
2. Pass the Road Test
3. Prove residence in New York such as with an electricity bill, a credit
card or a bank account.
What this leaves out is the current requirement that one must be a citizen
or have a green card to get a driver's license.
There is no rational basis for the requirement that one have a green card
to get a drivers license. The purpose to the requirement that one have a
license to drive is road safety and the avoidance of traffic accidents and
deaths. This has nothing to do with immigration policy. As a licensed
driver, I want to feel confident that other drivers on the road have a
license. I have no care nor concern as to whether they are in the US
legally or not.
This last came up in 2007 when the Democratic Party New York Governor in
office said the same things. However, the Republican President in office,
George W. Bush, screamed that having a driver's license was a privilege not
a right. Eventually, the New York governor backed down and agreed not to
issue drivers licenses to anybody who does not have at least a green card.
If elected, I will reverse that policy. Having a drivers license in New
York State will not depend on immigration status. It will only depend on
knowing how to drive safely.
A significant but unknown percentage of drivers do not have a drivers
license. They drive because they have to. It is the only way they have to
make a living. They drive carefully and hope to not get caught.
Since they cannot get insurance, they drive without insurance. When they
get in an accident, society suffers.
By allowing these people to get a drivers license, they will be able to get
insurance. This will cause the insurance rates for the rest of us to go
down. This will save us money and provide protections for the victims when
they do get in an accident.
Sam Sloan