Comments about ‘Driving test for refugees drawing scrutiny’

If I lived in another country, would they provide an interpreter for me so I could take a driving test? I think not! We are bankrupting our country trying to accomodate aliens who are here legally and illegally. Enough already! Let them learn the language and then take the test.

It's important to determine if the person is here legally on a visa or green card, if so they should be allowed an interpreter.

It's time we stop turning our heads over the immigration issue. It's the little loop hole laws like this that confuse those who come illegally.

Stop giving out the drivers privilege cards and start helping those who come legally to this country.

@chris8484, are you offering free English classes?

The solution is make them learn english as their primary language. If they don't want to assimilate then send them back to where they came from. We can't have drivers who can't read road signs or obey driving laws. The only other option is for these drivers to have an interpreter with them at all times and that is a ludicrous expectation.

This state and this country must make it a law that English is our language and it must be learned to get a citizenship or any legal documentation.

Folks, they stressed in this story that these people are not immigrants, illegal or legal. They are refugees. Huge difference: "We want to be very careful that what we do for legal refugees doesn't open floodgates to allow illegal aliens to take a test in anything other than English," he says. "I'm not interested in lowering the bar for either drivers' licenses or driving privilege cards."

@chris8484 You really reveal what kind of a person you are by taking your angry political agenda out on innocent refugees who are victims. It's not pretty.

Give them all a crutch when they enter the country that is what they expect.Do for me, do for me, do for me.

A few years ago when I moved back to Utah, I had to take the written Driver's test. As I was completing it, some were taking a different type of test, all they had to do was point to pictures. I walked up to the clerk and asked her if I could take that test instead, as it was quick and easy. She told me no, she decides who takes what test. I felt discriminated against because I spoke English. If they want to implement something like this again, it should be an option for all people, not just those who don't know English.

It takes 7 years to learn a foreign language. The sooner they are able to get a drivers license, the sooner they are able to get jobs. It only helps the community in the long run to have them contributing to the tax base. I'm ashamed at the bigotry that is running rampant in Utah. Unless you are Native American, you came from an immigrant background. Get off your high horse.

@my2cents

You really think that someone who has survived genocide, perhaps seen their family tortured and killed, who then manages to escape that nightmare and make it legally to the United States should be "sent back to where they came from" because they are not proficient at reading English??????

When I came to this country I had to learn enough english to take the driving test. I was glad I did becuase road signs are in English not spanish (my native language), and I have seen the example in the story of the words "Right Of Way" on more than one sign. If I don't know what that means I could end up driving the wrong direction and hurting someone else. An interpreter would have just hindered me in learning the words on the roadsigns. This is not about politics, it is about driving safely in America. I heard that I could have gone to Arizona to get a drivers license too, but I am afraid to be on the road with those people who do that.

Thanks Utah for making me a good citizen.

My quick apologies, a "Right Of Way" sign would have nothing to do with which direction I was driving, but the point is still made that not knowing what it says would put others in danger. I think I have seen it where it says "Yield To Right Of Way", or something like that.

I say it's OK, as long as the interpreter rides in the front seat with the driver AT ALL TIMES after the license is issued.
After all, the reason for the requirement is safety.
"Do not pass" is a rather important message, don't you think?

To aect--
It does not take 7 yrs to learn a language. Unless you think missionaries are truly endowed with special powers from heaven? And the Hungarian kids I grew up with learned a lot quicker. Their Moms (Dads were left behind in 1956 protecting families) only took a year to be reasonably conversant. The difference is in the level of motivation.

And by the way, "Native Americans" are immigrants too. Just tell me how many generations it takes to be "native": 5, 12, 2000?

I know there are Utahn's who drive in foreign countries who don't know the language, but are able to do it because the world over, signs have been made such that written language is not necessary. (symbols and shapes can be recognized).

When Utah got the Olympics, we said we welcome the world, apparently not, only if you are well heeled, do we. We don't esteem all flesh as one.

This isn't the fault of the churches. As of late the churches (the church) have been preaching love of all mankind. The followers are not catching on.

Given past history, perhaps churches should put EXTRA effort into getting the message across.

How can someone get a drivers license from a state they don't reside in? They must have to lie about their address.

It is important here to distinguish between refugees & immigrants in this case. Refugees are here because they don't have a choice. I think the focuse should be on helping them learn driving english so they can drive & making the test so that it uses only that kind of English. It sounds like too much of the test requires more English skills than nescessary. It wouldn't be bad if they put the parts of the test that are not part of driving terminology into a foreign language. Keep the terms like "yield" & "right of way" in but put the non nescessary terms in whatever language they want.

I really wish those who "support" and want to "protect" illegal immigrants, oh I'm sorry, "undocumented immigrant" (like they just haven't got the right form filled out), would stop saying things like "I'm ashamed at the bigotry that is running rampant in Utah. Unless you are Native American, you came from an immigrant background. Get off your high horse."

Most people in Utah welcome true immigrants and refugees with open arms and helping hands. I have seen thousands of people volunteer to help immigrants and refugees and many ways. I have befriended families from Ghana and not only help lift them temporally up but joined in Ghanan cultural activities with them.

Some people do not have the ability to see that there are some laws in this country that some Americans support and that some Americans don't support.

If you don't like the law, or it's enforcement, then go through the constitutional process to change it. If you want to do it some other way - I wish you a fun time in jail.

I really wish those who "support" and want to "protect" illegal immigrants, oh I'm sorry, "undocumented immigrant" (like they just haven't got the right form filled out), would stop saying things like "I'm ashamed at the bigotry that is running rampant in Utah. Unless you are Native American, you came from an immigrant background. Get off your high horse."

Most people in Utah welcome true immigrants and refugees with open arms and helping hands. I have seen thousands of people volunteer to help immigrants and refugees and many ways. I have befriended families from Ghana and not only help lift them temporally up but joined in Ghanan cultural activities with them.

Some people do not have the ability to see that there are some laws in this country that some Americans support and that some Americans don't support.

If you don't like the law, or it's enforcement, then go through the constitutional process to change it.

I really wish those who "support" and want to "protect" illegal immigrants, oh I'm sorry, "undocumented immigrant" (like they just haven't got the right form filled out), would stop saying things like "I'm ashamed at the bigotry that is running rampant in Utah. Unless you are Native American, you came from an immigrant background. Get off your high horse."

Most people in Utah welcome true immigrants and refugees with open arms and helping hands. I have seen thousands of people volunteer to help immigrants and refugees and many ways. I have befriended families from Ghana and not only help lift them temporally up but joined in Ghanan cultural activities with them.

Some people do not have the ability to see that there are some laws in this country that some Americans support and that some Americans don't support.