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Should driver's licenses be issued to illegal immigrants?

Results so far:

Yes
54% 637 votes Total: 1184 votes
No
46% 547 votes

by Ronald Lemley

Created on: October 24, 2009   Last Updated: October 25, 2009

There is a false assumption being made here that if people will completely stop doing something simply because it's made illegal.The truth is that there are an estimated 12 million undocumented workers in the US and that they have to get from point A to point B. They are obviously going to find a way to get around because they have to get to work, go to the store, visit friends, go to church, pick up the kids at school, play soccer, and all the other mundane tasks that make up the life of a working person. Illegal aliens should definitely be issued drivers licenses for the simple reason that they will continue to drive licensed or not.

One large glich in our reasoning about illegal alien issues is that people will falsely assume that they understand the issues in the same way that the rest of us do. In reality, the majority of our undocumented workers come from very humble beginnings and lack a fundamental feeling for the urgency of these issues.

Their sole motivation is to find work to feed and clothe themselves and their families. You will not find them among the homeless street people because they are workers. Contarary to popular belief, most of them shun charity and do not feel comfortable receiving handouts. They generally don't apply for welfare or other forms of government aid because they need to keep a low profile.

They don't see themselves as criminals and I don't either. In my line of work, I have come across many of them that had more in common with peasant farmers than sophisticated city folk.

Depriving any foreign people of licenses to drive discourages them from becomming properly informed about our traffic laws and rules of the road. It also discourages people from obtaining insurance which can and does cause many problems in the case of accidents. Many of these people have children and need to be concerned with their safety as well. I know that you wouldn't want your children to be driven around by an unlicensed or uninsured driver.

One case scenario has an illegal alien quickly driving around a school bus because he doesn't know the law concerning the flashing light. When a child is injured as a result of this hazardess practice, the driver has no insurance, and the child is hospitalized at the parent's exspense.

Who is to blame? In part the driver and in part the system which discouraged him from learning the traffic laws.

If your car is totalled by an illegal alien driver who will pay the damages? The answer is simple, you will. If the driver is unable to obtain a license, then he will also be without insurance.

Illegal aliens should be licensed to drive because they are drivers in the US and they will continue to be so. All drivers should be licensed regardless of their immigration status.

Learn more about this author, Ronald Lemley.
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