Massachusetts recently identified hundreds of refugees who obtained Massachusetts driver’s licenses by converting from Arizona licenses. By taking advantage of Arizona’s lax language and testing requirements, non-English speakers were able to take driving tests with translators, or bypass state testing altogether by training and testing with private driving schools. While Massachusetts offers the written exam in 26 languages, it does not allow the written tests to be taken with a translator as Arizona does.
It should be startling to English-speaking drivers to learn they are sharing the road with licensed drivers who cannot pass English language driving tests – and can even travel out of state to avoid them. Common sense would dictate that an understanding of English should be required to drive in the U.S. Shouldn’t licensed drivers be able to read road signs?
Inconsistent testing and residency requirements between states threaten public safety. Arizona, recently a trailblazer on state immigration enforcement, continues to allow non-state residents to obtain Arizona driver’s licenses. While the state requires proof of legal U.S. residency, loopholes allow non-Arizona residents to avoid their own state’s licensing requirements and open-up the system to potential fraud.
Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano postponed the deadline for full compliance with the REAL ID Act of 2005, which establishes uniform national standards for driver’s license issuance, to January 2013. REAL ID was passed in response to recommendations from the 9/11 Commission and requires states to revise licensing laws in order to make it virtually impossible for illegal aliens to obtain valid driver’s licenses or other government-issued identification.
New Mexico and Washington continue to protect illegal aliens at the cost of national security by allowing illegal aliens to acquire driver’s license and state IDs.
36 Comments
You do not need to be able to read or write in English ask any poor high school student with class sizes increasing . It now matters more if you show up for school then learning anything while you are there ! There are a lot of illiterate people out there .
I was in an accident with a woman who could not speak a word of English..I don’t understand why we let this happen. It could only be for the money. Your government needs the money to pay for all the other foreigners who rob us blind. I really think it’s time to fight back.
This is also the case in Florida! I renewed my license last October (2010) in Alachua County. There was an interpreter for six Oriental individuals obtaining licenses for the first time. This is a very serious issue! Having individuals on the road who do not have at least a command of English can cause many accidents and problems!
I watched a hispanic get a license in KS. using a translator.Dumbest thing I have seen in a long time.Thankfully I was in the process of leaving KS. to move back to GA. where we are fighting the problem.KS. panders to the chamber of commerce & immigration groups.For the life of me,I will never understand why they elected Brownback as Gov. because he aided illegals as did the st, legislature.
Contrary to popular belief, driving in the United States of America is a privilege, not a right! Drivers licenses are not mentioned once in the Constitution! Please, educate those you come in contact with on the ill effects of ILLEGAL ALIENS!
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What about NAFTA……..non English speaking and reading Mexican truck drivers, as in trailer trucks, being able to drive on US hwys from Mexico all the way to Canada with trucks that would not pass a US DOT safety inspections…….and the word out on the road is that inspectors are to look the other way……..that’s makes for a real safe combination don’t u think?
They do some work but most are a voter block for elections and used as slaves and migrant workers and abused..horridly.. however, they must go back to their native countries and wait in line for legal .. the usa tax payer can not PAY for their tuitions and all their funds and medical to have babies and all their welfare and food. The politicians are allowing this to get voted and use as a voter block. it is very corrupt and all illegals must wait in line from the boat they came in on.. or borders they illegal cross.
they must wait and pay for legal passage and citizenship..like everyone else. They also bring hordes of disease and public health pathogens to USA from illegal countries. This is a disgrace…they need to wait their turn and to it legally..no free rides/or free USA aid ..USA is starving..Charity starts in USA for USA citizens and students here..we do not have a dime!
I do not even have the words to describe these type situations any longer. Politicians have allowed these things to flourish too long. They can stop it. They have the ability. They choose not to comply. Keep rolling them over.
Disgracefull!!!! does Joe Arpaio(sp) know they are doing this AZ??? Probably not in Maricopa county.
I live in Phoenix, (Maricopa county) under sheriff Joe. To get a drivers license, the minimum required is 2 utility bills with your name on them. Think cell phone and dish tv, that don’t ask.
You can also use a paid test taker (interpreter).
Most don’t bother, they buy a junk car, steal a plate and run away from an accident or simply don’t show for court if caught without a license, catch and release. Every 1 out of 6 in Phoenix is illegal.
I will take that challenge of ” we can’t deport 12 million illegal aliens”.
This crap will only stop when each and everyone of us stand up to it. Call your Senators and Congress rep and tell them to put a stop to it or find another job for themselves. The Democrats pander to the hispanics for their votes and the Republicans pander to the businesses that hire them. With this two party system we are screwed. Time to start a third party let’s call it the American Party and get rid of all these jerks who are lining their pockets and screwing us over.
YOU CAN’T TALK TO ANYONE IN THE SENATE/CONGRESS, THEY ALL ARE LOOKING FOR THE ILLEGAL VOTE.
Back in the 60s there was no such thing as having a translator because my aunt couldn’t read my grandfather the questions in polish but now we are living in a different time.Today because of all the illegals we draw pictures on signs because we know these illiterates can’t read english our countrys official language.You can train a monkey to read the signs and drive.
this is why we have so many accidents on our roads. Stop giving licences to people who cannot read and write English. NO licences should be given to illegals. Period.
The problem we are having in Texas with the illegals driving with no knowledge of the English language is going the wrong way on interstates. Can’t tell you how many Americans have been killed with illegals going the wrong way just in the DFW area.
Tell your state officials you want the practice of appeasement to end. If they don’t vote the worthless bums out on their ***.
No illlegal should be allowed to get a driver’s license. No government info should be publiched in any language other than English.. In fact, no translators should be allowed to obtain a license, disability, welfare, food stamps, nothing unless they speak English. I am sick and tired of this government both Republicans and Democrats who allow this nonsense to continue. I couldn’t wait for Bush to get out of office and now I feel the same with Obama. The rules for Congress should change to just 2 4 year terms and then they are out, and for pensions, they should receive what we receive from our companies and not their entire salaries They should not have special insurance and be on the same plans as everyone else.
we had 2 couples killed an illegal that was driving drunk,who had ben deported twice.it happened to
young married couple that just maried.
where is justice in america? ony ice can detain illegals.
this would not happen in russia,turkey,germany. whats wrong with are laws?
Yet another problem with these illegal aliens. When it all going to end? I know, I know. These problems will all end when we get rid of all the illegal aliens and their illegal alien children.
Let’s face it. Our Federal Government has failed all of us in not enforcing our immigration laws. Look at how many anchor babies, (illegal alien children), the American taxpayers have paid for. Was it about 4.2 million over the last 16-18 years? Maybe this is something that should be written about. Then we have to school these illegal alien children, the parents (parent) go on welfare, get food stamps, public housing and everything else. What does this cost the American taxpayer? How about the stolen identities, forged documents and fake green cards. Well, you can’t blame the illegal aliens completely. We do have these UNAMERICAN people who hire these illegal aliens. Of course we have these illegal alien students who are DEMANDING we pass the DREAM Act so we can pay for their college tuition. How about the demonstrations of these illegal aliens DEMANDING we give them amnesty. Who do these people think they are? They have no right to be in this country, yet they are DEMANDING, yes, DEMANDING we give them amnesty. Well, I am DEMANDING we get our immigration laws ENFORCED! Look at the costs of deporting these illegal aliens. Look at the costs of the trials and jailing of these illegal aliens. Look at the costs of the law suits by la raza and the aclu. Oh, don’t forget the Catholic Church. Look at the BILLIONS sent out of this country by the illegal aliens. How does that help America? When is this all going to end?
well bob,i,m sorry to say these politicians are not going to help us,so its up to we the people,to bring law suits to the people or persons who are doling out these licenses to thes illegal aliens{thats against the law to you moron politicians}and vote out these people who are breaking the law to license and hire these illegal aliens,and to the companys who hire them.indict obama for imposing as a legal american.it would be great if we could vote for jesse ventura,or frank serpico.that being said.bob barr is probably the best choice out of all of them,that i know of, signed by a legal [THATS FOR THE LAW TO YOU MORAN POLITICIAN] tax paying american citizen.peter finch said it best in network ,that i,m mad as hell and i,m not going to take it anymore,and no more signs or telephone calls in 37 languages,english only.god bless america
Vote your mind don’t send someone back if they won’t vote to up hold U.S. law. That means enforcement of all immigration laws, and a true interpretation of the 14th amendment.
Rick Perry should be fined by this government for breaking the law and giving in-state tuition to illegals. In fact, illegals should receive no benefits at all such as welfare, food stamps, free education, disability, and certainly no birthright citizenship.. They were not, in my opinion, invited here, They have been given a free ride by both parties. They claim they pay taxes, but since their income is low, they end up paying nothing, but they declare their children and get money back. Today they said that over 650 million dollars have been given to dead people. That goes to show you the incompetence of governmennt employees when it comes to disability, welfare, food stamps, etc. And, by the way it has cost taxpayers over 113 billionn dollars for benefits to these illegal aliens. When I travel out of the country, I obtain insurance, and even though I have it, other countries have made me pay for services before they would even provide the service and we let busloads of pregnant Hispanics come here to have their babies, planes are filled with woman who are pregant to obtain citizenship and benefits and therefore those idiots in Washington better stop this before there is an uprising against them for they have allowed this to happen.. I blame both parties and in particular Clinton because he is the one who started pushing the North American Union. I have talked to several of my Canadian friends and they say they will not allow this to happen. It is time to put an end to current members of Congress and start electing people who support America and AMERICANS ONLY
Although most of what you say is true, what you call an anchor baby is an american citizen just like you, according to our constitution. Parents are not mentioned. If you don’t like it, amend it so the 14th does not say “anyone born in U.S. is a citizen” period. An infant can’t have allegiance to a foreign government, that is a citizenship naturalization restriction.
This will end when we the people force Politicians to stop taking bribes from companies to not enforce our laws, so they make more profit from slave labor.
This is our job as citizens. We are failing the responsibility entrusted to us.
Actually Dr. Harris you are wrong, what we call anchor babies are NOT American citizens. When the Civil Rights act of 1866 was written which IS a Federal law it showed clearly the intention that foreigners children were not to receive citizenship, the 14th amendment was merely an expansion of it but didn’t change the fact that anchor babies are a proper term for illegal children who have stolen citizenship to chain migrate the rest of their illegal family over to continue to destroy our communities and take advantage of the US taxpayer.
No one should be able to get a drivers license with out a basic knowledge of English. I don’t know just when states started allowing this but I think it was a mistake.
This is dumbing down of the Gov. Can they sink any lower? No brains, no common sense ,no guts! Losers. No concern or care about the safety of CITIZENS!!! Comprende?? Think I must ask that in Spanish because I think many of them do not understand English.
Blame yourself they should have never allowed non-citizens any of the rights of citizenship until they can read, and write the English language, and have proven they are here legally oh, and if they don’t have proof of insurance they can’t drive anything with a motor. If that means they can’t work on a farm them so be it.
It is happening EVERYWHERE. If you REALLY want to witness people driving with no idea how to read, write (or speak) English… While passing (with translation) the tests DMV has to offer… Come to Madera Calif. If you stand on the main street for a few min. you can even see vans driving through town with home made license plates! flat white paint,with un-raised flat blue numbers and letters, no state, no stickers…. But, it’s on there! It is the land of “unusured motorist” and the land of “hit & run”. It’s a SHAME!!!!!
Once after taking MY test at DMV, they called my name to give my results, and a old woman from Viet _ _ _ stood up and tried to claim MY place! She was telling them “yes…yes…yes..” The employee did check to see that “she” was in fact not who they were calling…(me). Tell me this….. If a person can’t even understand enough English to recognize their name being called (or not)…. How are they supposed to drive in any safe fashion on OUR road ways?????
I have traveled all over the world. I didn’t try to drive in the country’s where I didn’t know enough of the language to read the signs and be safe.
HOW DO WE GET OUR COUNTRY BACK???? WHEN DO ANY OF THE LAYWERS STAND UP FOR AMERICANS RIGHTS AND SAFTEY???? WHEN DOES ANYONE IN OFFICE STAND UP FOR AMERICANS AND OUR RIGHTS AND SAFTEY???? WHEN DO AMERICANS BEGIN TO MATTER???
I’m sure that we’ll soon see road signs in the many languages spoken in this tower of Babel. Can it get any more insane? Just stand by.
Very good point. One that I haven’t heard in a long time.A country of 500 languages (or 26 ) can’t begin to talk to each other. English IS the language of America.Learn it or leave it!
Jimmy-o-
This question is for you-
What do you call a person who speaks one language?
NOT IF I CAN HELP IT. I WAS IN CHICAGO AND STOPPED AT A MCDONALDS. THE SERVERS WERE HISPANIC AS WELL AS THE MENUS. I WROTE MCDONALDS AND THEY SAID NO THAT CAN’T BE SO I GAVE THEM THE ADDRESS OF THE MCDONALDS.. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I WENT BACK TO THAT MCDONALDS AND THERE WERE NO HISPANICS WORKING AND THE MENU WAS IN ENGLISH. KEEP WRITING YOUR CONGRESSMAN. I WRITE EVERY SENATOR. THEY MAY NOT READ IT BUT I AM SURE THERE IS A PILE OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE SITTING ON THEIR FLOOR EXTENDING TO THE CEILING. BUT THEN AGAIN, THE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES DON’T UNDERSTAND ENGLISH AND ARE BRAIN DEAD.
That’s discrimination. Just because you don’t speak a language doesn’t mean they shouldn’t work. On the other hand stop being a racist.
I agree on that ” Massachusetts offers the written exam in 26 languages, it does not allow the written tests to be taken with a translator as Arizona does.” Its advantage to those who can’t understand English although it is the universal language. But they should know basic English for them to read the signs. By practicing, who knows time comes they are already fluent in English both oral and written. Give time to educate someone.
They don’t learn, or won’t learn because their only here for what they can get. Not because they want to be American’s. Just let them piss in your Wheaties, and they will keep doing it.