Oregon to Give Illegal Aliens ‘Driver Cards’ That Won’t Require Proof of Insurance!

According to KATU-TV, the Oregon legislature this week gave final approval to a measure that will grant driver licenses to anyone -- including illegal aliens -- provided they can prove they have lived in Oregon for at least one year and lack other legal identification.The measure could help the elderly and homeless obtain valid ID. A number of criteria must be met, but legal residence in the U.S. is not one of them.

The card cannot be used to register to vote or purchase a firearm.

It will cost about $4 more to obtain and renew than a standard Oregon license.

One alarming aspect of the bill is that unlike the standard Oregon license, recipients ARE NOT required to purchase auto insurance!

State Rep. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, made some very compelling arguments against the measure earlier this week in an op-ed piece for OregonLive.com.

She wrote:

Testimony from the Oregon Association of Nurseries, a key backer of SB833, talks about public safety and how loosening rules for obtaining a license would reduce the number of uninsured drivers. The fact is that since the law was changed, the Oregon Department of Transportation says, the 'before and after changes in driver licensing requirements show no apparent impact on unlicensed/uninsured driving.'"

She continued:

Advocates also say SB833 would 'create more access to job opportunities,' because these undocumented people could legally drive to work. Yet, federal law prohibits employment for people without proper legal presence.

And finally, she makes a great point about the hypocrisy of the whole idea:

 testimony said this bill 'helps Oregon residents follow the law by providing their identity,' etc. It seems hypocritical for backers of SB833 to want these people to 'follow the law' for licensing, but not for immigration.

Supporters say undocumented residents are here anyway, so they should have driver's licenses. Are they saying it's OK for some people to ignore some laws but not others? For a free society, citizens need to respect and obey the law.

Oregon officials estimate at least 84,000 people will sign up for the program when it goes into effect Jan. 1, 2014. That means, potentially, tens of thousands of uninsured motorists could be flooding Oregon roadways at a time when, traditionally, driving conditions are at their worst in Eastern Oregon.

According to language in the bill, those who have "lost their license" are eligible to try for a new Driver's Card.