New Mich. drivers must now prove they are legal U.S. residents

Source: Free Press

January 21, 2008
BY MATT HELMS
FREE PRESS DRIVING COLUMNIST

Michiganders getting their driver’s licenses for the first time will have to prove they are legal, permanent U.S. residents, under requirements that will go into effect Tuesday, according to the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office ...

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox in December issued an opinion reversing state policy that had allowed illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, noting that they allow people to cash checks, get loans and jobs and fly on airplanes.

Supporters say the new licenses are designed to reduce fraudulent license use. Others criticized the move, saying it will do little to curb illegal immigration and create a greater underground of faked licenses and more unlicensed, uninsured drivers.

Land’s office said the new rules for now affect only first-time applicants; new rules for renewed licenses will be released soon ...

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080121/NEWS06/80121053/0/NEWS06

Read more: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080121/NEWS06/80121053/0/NEWS06

... this is only going to punish the harmless while helping the harmful.

What about students? The University of Michigan must get hundreds of foreign students a year. I wonder how the state expects them to take care of their needs for 4 or more years.

Department of Homeland Security, where are your brains?

I'm about to go on a Rant over the ignorance involved in these decisions.

Done.

without turning them in for MI licenses, so long as they don't make themselves officially resident? Most overseas drivers have some sort of international license or permit that's usually valid for five years.

Of course, it depends on what other rules say as to whether that's a valid option.

and must be renewed in the country of origin.

Insurance for international licenses is quite expensive, and some insurance companies won't even cover them.

I hadn't thought that far.

:eyes: Yes, we all know you want to run for governor. Pandering to your base like this just makes it blatantly obvious.