Driver’s License Policy Should Remain Intact
Governor’s proposed changes pose a serious threat to security of New Yorkers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 25, 2007

Contact: George Oros; Tel: (914) 995-2828

The Republican Conference of the Board of Legislators is urging Governor Eliot Spitzer not to change the current driver’s license policy, an ill-conceived move that would seriously threaten the security of all New Yorkers.

Recently, Spitzer announced he would issue amend state policy regarding the issuance of driver’s licenses by disconnecting the driver’s license from a person’s Social Security number, which, in turn, would remove the national security check that a Social Security number provides.

In 2002, Governor George Pataki adopted an administrative policy mandating the Department of Motor Vehicles require a valid Social Security number as part of the identification process for getting a New York State driver’s license. This process has detected thousands of people driving with a valid license while in apparent violation of the United States immigration laws. The 2002 policy was in conformance with state Vehicle and Traffic Law.

“The United States of America should not be made vulnerable to terrorist attacks because Governor Spitzer cannot keep the state’s roads safe,” said Minority Leader George Oros (R-C/Cortlandt), who noted the hijackers who murdered more than 3,000 Americans on September 11, 2001 had illegal driver’s licenses as part of their identification kit.

“Is the governor kidding?” remarked Legislator Suzanne Swanson (C-R/Mount Pleasant). “Maybe he should just deliver a license to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He has a valid foreign passport.”

The United States Real ID Act of 2005 requires all states to meet a uniform standard of issuing driver’s licenses by May 2008, including proof of legal status.

“I think we have to put first things first,” said Minority Whip Ursula LaMotte (R/Bedford), who was backed by legislators James Maisano (R/New Rochelle), Gordon Burrows (R/Yonkers) and Bernice Spreckman (R/Yonkers) in voicing their disapproval of Spitzer’s proposal. “The war against the enemies of light takes a higher priority than the traffic code.”

The Republican Conference called on the entire Board of Legislators to join them in sending a strong message to the Governor and the state Legislature not to take a step backwards.

Click here to view letter sent to colleagues by Legislator Oros.