Deseret News | Reader comments: Illegals may lose driving privileges

Reader comments
Illegals may lose driving privileges

Jake | 2:55 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

What boggles my mind is that the legislature ever decided to issue the ill conceived "driver's privilege card" in the first place. With a wink and a nod, they decided to ignore that the person receiving it is here illegally. Of course these cards should be done away with. Senate President Valentine says that they'll "be driving anyway." I'm sure that's the case, with or without privilege cards. However, every time a police officer runs across an illegal, his car should be taken, and he should go to jail. From there he should be deported back to his country of origin.

Bob G | 6:16 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

This law to abolish driving privlidge cards would be very beneficial to Utah and the insurance issue is another matter. These predominantly uninsured drivers are hazardous to all Utah citizens. There is no system in place that enforces drivers to have a continously inforce insurance on their vehicles, even for the legal citizens. Removing the illegal aliens from the roads would also help the polution problem and traffic congestion on our roads. Many of the vehicles these illegals drive are not road worthy or meet the emissions or safety standerds the state has in force. This is from experience from seeing and working on their vehicles. Those with the privilidge cards that get revoked will always have the public transportation system to use or carpooling with legal license holders. They really have no need to be on our roads in private, uninsured vehicles with no drivers training. The illegals driving should have to meet the same or stricter laws to get a priviledge to drive card. It's bad enough to deal with improperly and undertrained licensed drivers but adding the mix of illegals with no experience or training in driving makes it even worse.

Chuck | 7:59 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

This is ridiculous! Not only does it hurt the "illegals", but it hurts the rest of us by putting uninsured drivers on the road. No one wins with this legislation.

Comments continue below

Makes Sense | 8:15 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Oh darn they are lost another "right". As far as I am concerned the only right they have is to a QUICK AND SPEEDY TRIAL WHICH WILL RESULT IN THIER DEPORTATION AT THIER COST! Seriouly if they have a truck, sell it to pay for the costs. if the own a home sell it. Its sad that other people such as thier legal family memebers may be hurt, but THEY should have THOUGHT of THAT before the broke the law and came here. There are consequences to every action.

A Supporting Citizen | 8:10 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

The driving privlide card allows everyone that lives in Utah the equal oppertunity to drive. Equal oppertunities is one of the main building blocks of America. Why hinder that now? Most of the people that call themselfs Americans, were born here yes, but what about there ancestors? They were illegal too at one point, execpt for the natives. These ancestors came and took and destroyed just enough, to bulid the foundations we have today. These illegals are not hurting, or destroying anything or any ideal buy being able to drive. Infact they are trying to abide by the driving law by wanting this card. More then half of them have insurance, and their cars do have registration. If they do not and get pulled over for that, then it is their fault, yes. But what about those that are paying insurance, and are registering their cars, and are doing the whole driving thing the right way. Should they be punished too? I am for driving privlidge cards!!!!

Utah driver | 8:22 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

I think many people in Utah who are not illegals should lose their driving privleges period! The way people drive in this state is a crime in itself and a national threat. Every time I drive in downtown SLC or Happy Valley I almost die. The Drivers ED program in the High Schools is a total joke.

Nan | 8:32 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

I must agree witht he both of you.

Driving a privilege? | 8:48 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Since when is driving skill based on legal status of a person in the country. How is driving skill related to immigration status? Don't government laws have to be rationally related to achieve an important government purpose. There is no relation here. Driving is a privilege for those who can meet the requisite driving skills tests, plain and simple. If you want to get bad drivers off the road who never use their turning signal (90% of those on I-15) then confiscate their cars.

ham handed | 9:39 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Enough of these piecemeal measures. We need to pull in the welcome mat for illegal aliens. They are foreign nationals--mostly MEXICAN citizens. We need to correct this problem before it gets worse. That said, when I read that people oppose enforcement measures because of the need of comprehensive reform, I wonder if that's just an excuse to have it both ways.

polygamists are ILLEGALS | 11:15 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Funny how the DNews will publish all this vitriol against Mexicans but not against their heritage. It's pretty obvious your take on this. "Rule of Law" my butt... as long as it doesn't hurt you, huh?

Anonymous | 1:10 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

To: polygamists are ILLEGALS | 11:15 a.m. Feb. 12, 2008
The state does not recognize the other wives of a polygamist man. They do prosecute in cases where other laws are violated.

Removing the "welcome mat" is a great idea!

John Reynolds | 2:47 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Am I missing something ?
If we know they are illegal, why then are they not apprehended and asked to leave ?
Are we not upholding the REAL laws that are already in place ?!

Francine H. | 7:49 p.m. Feb. 12, 2008

Illegal aliens are a threat in more ways than driving. We need to make Utah less attractive to lawbreakers so we don't end up the illegal junkyard of America.

Keri | 6:19 a.m. Feb. 13, 2008

I read all your comments. John Reynolds, I totally agree. I also think Supporting Citizen has a point.
My view, however, is this:
We know they're illegal. We call them illegal. Why,
then, do we have all this garbage about AMNESTY? But
I also believe we as Americans need to uphold our heritage and accept the "tired, huddled masses" more welcomingly than we are.
So what would I do if I were president? 1) deport the illegals 2) make it easier for people to come in (legally, with inspection of course!) 3) tell the media when they show primary results that John McCain needs to be on the left side of the screen!

Cal Jones | 9:14 a.m. Feb. 14, 2008

If you are tired of illegal immigration you need to start by sending our entire congressional delegation home. Chirs Cannon is first on the list followed by Bob Bennett. Orin Hatch is also an amnesty hack who waffles back and forth voting one day against McCain /Kennedy and the next day in favor of in state tuition for illegals. Regardless of which amnesty sell out gets in the White House we can stop it by sending people who know how fed up we all are with the Mexican invasion and the spineless idiots who have not only allowed but encouraged it. Another big step is to do exactly what we are doing by taking away all privileges from those who think they are above the law.

READ ME!!!!! | 2:23 a.m. Feb. 4, 2009

im in favor of reducing crime uninsured motorist but i dont agree with taking away the privilege to drive in the 20 year i have of life and only 15 of those here in the U.S. i have not seen such a hate, and dont say its not because it is, towards people that dont belong. this feel wrong im a so called alien going through the resident prosiger so this wont affect me but is still wrong to do this theres to many illegals and nothing they do will drive them out so why hurt them and their families they are people just like any one else to be a AMERICAN you dont got to be born here but feel it going through your heart and soul im brown with the AMERICAN flag tattoed on my arm we all are AMERICANS born or rased here or even if you are here illegaly think about it is wat you feel not how you look

pretorius | 5:59 a.m. Feb. 4, 2009

YES

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