English Only Driver’s License Exams
The Alabama Department of Public Safety currently gives driver’s license examinations in about 10 different languages. Recent litigation to limit the examination to English-only has failed, primarily based on interpretations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, forbidding discrimination based upon national origin.
As the debate over immigration rages on, a major concern of many is that by being too accommodating to the use of foreign languages, we are contributing to the balkanization of our country. I share that concern.
I believe some legislation will be introduced this session to require all driver’s license exams to be given in English only. This legislation will be met with strong opposition from those who will argue that it violates the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and also those who will oppose it based on the notion that it is a hindrance to our efforts to draw foreign investments to enhance our economic development.
The Redstone Arsenal is near the center of my district, and much of the economic success can be attributed to the space and rocket programs led by immigrants several decades ago. Alabama has provided economic incentives to entice foreign companies to build automobile plants and steel plants in Alabama, with the knowledge that increased economic activity leads to prosperity for more of our citizens, as well as increased state revenue, without raising tax rates.
With all this in mind, I have an idea: Why not continue to give the driver’s license exam in the foreign languages to those who are in this country legally with proper documentation; but instead of giving them a permanent driver’s license, give them a two-year license that can only be renewed to a permanent driver’s license with an examination in English?
I believe the effect of this would be to provide an additional incentive for properly-documented, legal immigrants to learn the language and would enhance their assimilation into our society. I also think it makes the discrimination argument more difficult.
I’m getting ready to introduce a bill to this effect, so how ’bout some feedback? Maybe we should give the test in Alabamian: Y’all make sure and stop your pickup at them red signs.
Comment by wayne
The bottom line on this issue is that they are going to drive so as Bill Richardson says it is a public safety issue.
Comment by Loretta Nall
That was my question Wayne….not having a license has never stopped anyone from driving….so what is the purpose of this legislation? Quite frankly if Hispanics here without documentation are going to drive then I would prefer that they know our road rules. To do otherwise needlessly endangers everyone else on the road.
Comment by Dan
Alabama, to my knowledge, doesn’t issue licenses to illegal aliens. This isn’t about them. It’s about legal residents and even AMERICAN CITIZENS who don’t speak English.
Sorry, Mike. If English was needed to drive, I would concede the safety issue. But you don’t need to know the language to know what to do at a stop sign. Since that’s moot, I can’t support picking on American citizens and legal residents just because they don’t talk like I do.
Comment by Del
Am I wrong in thinking that this is only a big deal because the driver’s license has become the de facto national ID card?
Not that I’m not concerned about balkanization.
Comment by Loretta Nall
And what about auto insurance? I hear people talk about being involved in an accident with undocumented workers and the undocumented folks have no insurance…..because they have no license. The insured drivers are the ones who pay for that in the long run. Their premiums go up, they may lose work due to injuries and there is no insurance from the other driver to collect to help with that because we don’t allow them to be licensed or insured.
So, who are we really screwing with this legislation?
Comment by Del
Loretta, maybe they have no license because they have no insurance, not the other way around. When my daughter got her learner’s permit we had to provide proof of insurance six ways from Sunday.
Comment by Loretta Nall
Ugh…learners permit. My son was going to get his this Tuesday….but I broke my foot on Saturday and can’t take him. Maybe a broke foot ain’t so bad after all as it has helped to delay the inevitable for a little longer.
Either way you put it Licanse and Insurance or Insurance and License….you really can’t get one without the other.
Comment by Del
Yes, but the insurance costs a lot more.
Comment by Willie
I have driven in 20 countries with my Alabama drivers license and a standard international drivers license issued by AAA, which allowed by international treaties. Why don’t we allow Mexican consulates, and they are many in the States, issue IDL’s to it’s citizens with valid Mexican drivers licenses?
Comment by wayne
Illegals can get insurance here in HSV anyway. Not every agency buts ome offer it.
Comment by Anonymous
How about we require people to be able to READ? I laugh at this “but all the signs are written in English” argument because Alabama allows illiterates to take the driver license test.
Comment by Loretta Nall
wayne…even with no license they can get insurance?
Comment by wayne
Yes. They may require the international license, I am not sure
Comment by Liz
Willie, because the standards of driving in many countries are not the same as here. (Stop laughing. I mean they might be worse.)
For example, a Pakistani friend of mine told me that their driving test consists of driving forwards 50 yards or so, and then stopping. That’s it. You really want people to add to our road problems by barely being able to drive?