Murthy Takes Action : Maryland Driver's License Efforts
Posted Mar 14, 2003

There is a bill pending in the Maryland State Legislature that would ease the burden of proof with respect to immigration documentation required to obtain a Maryland driver's license. While the bill faces strong opposition, The Law Office of Sheela Murthy, P.C. has been actively involved in advocating support for this bill. On March 5, 2003, we were pleased to have the opportunity to discuss our position with an aide to Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich and to testify before the Maryland House Judiciary Committee to promote the legislation.

In her testimony in support of the bill, Attorney Sheela Murthy, as one of the leading voices for the pro-immigration lobby, argued that drivers' licenses should not become de facto immigration documents. Attorney Murthy argued that the driver's license clerks are not qualified personnel for interpreting immigration status documents. The focus of the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) should be public safety with respect to testing drivers and verifying insurance coverage. Their role should not be extended to immigration issues, which are Federal in nature. She also reasoned that permitting more foreign nationals to obtain drivers' licenses would increase national security by recording these drivers into the MVA database.

While some opponents of the bill claimed that illegal immigrants are criminals that should not have drivers' licenses, a member of the committee itself contended that even convicted rapists and murderers in Maryland are permitted to have drivers' licenses. Opponents also questioned why illegal or soon-to-become illegal immigrants should be given the reward of a driver's license. In response to that, Attorney Murthy clarified that many of the immigrants are not "becoming illegal;" rather, they are in the long and difficult process of trying to become "legal."

Several Maryland House Judiciary Committee members spoke to Attorney Murthy after the hearing and one pledged to reintroduce similar legislation if the current bill fails. We are pleased that the testimony was well received and look forward to assisting with these and other ongoing efforts in the months to come.