By LEAH RAE
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: September 22, 2007)
... Immigrants will be able to show foreign passports and other identification documents to qualify for licenses - and no longer be denied for lack of Social Security numbers. The policy will start phasing in by year's end.
The decision is a big turnaround at the Department of Motor Vehicles, which under Gov. George Pataki tightened the rules for foreign-born applicants. The DMV barred people from renewing their licenses without valid Social Security numbers, something illegal immigrants would not be able to present ...
"I think that people should really think about the dangers of having uninsured and unlicensed drivers on the road," said Graciela Heymann, an advocate for the new policy and executive director of the Westchester Hispanic Coalition. State officials said the new policy would reduce the risk posed by drivers who have no insurance and never passed a road test ...
State officials said the wider eligibility rules would be accompanied by stronger anti-fraud measures. New document scanners will check the validity of foreign passports and compare an applicant's photo with the ones already in the system. To ensure that illegal immigrants don't flood into New York for licenses, the governor would seek state legislation to make applicants prove that they live within the state. Most changes would be made administratively ...
http://www.nynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070922/NEWS05/709220370