2008 Woodie Awards
Licensing for residents only
Proposal would tighten rules for Maine driver's licenses
Dylan Riley
Issue date: 12/13/07 Section: News
International students at the University of Maine may face new complications if the Maine legislature enacts a law requiring people to prove state residency before obtaining a driver's license, according to the Secretary of State's office.
The need for a residency requirement was prompted in 2006 by a federal investigation into whether illegal aliens were obtaining driver's licenses and state IDs in Maine after traveling from Poland via New York. The investigation motivated the Secretary of State's office to submit a bill for amending the state licensing laws with a residency requirement. The bill excluded college students, military personnel and their families. A similar bill was submitted at the same time by Rep. William Brown of Vassalboro, which included no exceptions to license applicants.
Adding a residency requirement for driver's licenses would slow down the numbers of international students coming to UMaine, according to Emin Okutan, president of the International Students Association.
"There's a lot of barriers even before getting your license and a car, which is expensive," Okutan said.
With more regulations and paperwork being added to state requirements, people may look for other options beyond Maine universities.
"When I came here the first three months, I didn't have a car; it was really so bad," said Homoud Alhajri, vice president of the International Students Association.
Alhajri agreed that the number of international students at UMaine would diminish if this resolution passes.
Of the nearly one million licensed state drivers, 2,521 do not have a social security number, according to Don Cookson, communications director for the Secretary of State's office. State representatives point to drivers without social security numbers as potential illegal immigrants, a claim that is unproven and unfounded, Cookson said.
"That's less than one half of one percent of all licenses issued," Cookson said.
Curbing illegal immigration was not the reason for either legislative bill, according to Cookson, and is not the responsibility of the state government.
The need for a residency requirement was prompted in 2006 by a federal investigation into whether illegal aliens were obtaining driver's licenses and state IDs in Maine after traveling from Poland via New York. The investigation motivated the Secretary of State's office to submit a bill for amending the state licensing laws with a residency requirement. The bill excluded college students, military personnel and their families. A similar bill was submitted at the same time by Rep. William Brown of Vassalboro, which included no exceptions to license applicants.
Adding a residency requirement for driver's licenses would slow down the numbers of international students coming to UMaine, according to Emin Okutan, president of the International Students Association.
"There's a lot of barriers even before getting your license and a car, which is expensive," Okutan said.
With more regulations and paperwork being added to state requirements, people may look for other options beyond Maine universities.
"When I came here the first three months, I didn't have a car; it was really so bad," said Homoud Alhajri, vice president of the International Students Association.
Alhajri agreed that the number of international students at UMaine would diminish if this resolution passes.
Of the nearly one million licensed state drivers, 2,521 do not have a social security number, according to Don Cookson, communications director for the Secretary of State's office. State representatives point to drivers without social security numbers as potential illegal immigrants, a claim that is unproven and unfounded, Cookson said.
"That's less than one half of one percent of all licenses issued," Cookson said.
Curbing illegal immigration was not the reason for either legislative bill, according to Cookson, and is not the responsibility of the state government.
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