License Undocumented, With 2 Stipulations

I agree with your Sept. 2 editorial, “Driver’s Ed for California,” that it would be a very good idea to allow as many as 250,000 illegal immigrants to obtain California driver’s licenses. Obviously, it is extremely important that these drivers pass a driving test before using the roads, regardless of their immigrant status.

However, I would add two vital caveats; first, no insurance, no license. It should not be too difficult to mandate proof of auto insurance before a driver’s license is issued, and this would protect all drivers in California. Second, any license issued in this way should be stamped “Not valid for voting purposes.” This would minimize fraudulent voting registration, which might result from producing a driver’s license.

Leslie Moss

Malibu

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I am dismayed but not surprised that The Times supports driver’s licenses for illegal aliens. There is no evidence that [licensing] illegal immigrants would “make California’s roads safer.” Why would those who violate federal immigration laws be expected to obey all state traffic and insurance laws if given a license? The lives of such lawbreakers should not be made “a bit easier.” Rather, our elected officials should make it a bit harder for illegal immigrants to drive, set up bank accounts and attend public universities. To do otherwise would simply encourage millions more to evade the Border Patrol and come to our overcrowded state.

Jeffrey A. Hartwick

Los Angeles