Undocumented immigrants form a big line to apply for state drivers licenses

PIX News

 Undocumented immigrants in New York will be able to apply for driver's licenses this week after the state's so-called "Green Light Law" went into effect Monday.

The law, which was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June, expands the forms of identification that can be used by applicants to obtain a driver's license in the state, including foreign passports and a foreign driver's license.

Unless required for federal ID purposes, the law also stipulates that "the commissioner, and any agent or employee of the commissioner, shall not disclose or make accessible in any manner records of information that he or she maintains, to any agency that primarily enforces immigration law or to any employee or agent of such agency, unless the commissioner is presented with a lawful court order or judicial warrant."

At the time of it's adoption, the law was heralded by supporters as a way to allow undocumented immigrants a way to live and work in the state without having to fear deportation.

"As New Yorkers, we have an obligation to defend other New Yorkers," Gustavo Rivera, D-Bronx, said from the state Senate floor in June. "And every one of these individuals, whether they're documented or not, are New Yorkers."

The law comes into force after a last-minute legal challenge brought by the Rensselaer County Clerk was thrown out by a federal court judge Friday.

"The Green Light law is legal and enforceable, and two separate federal courts have now already dismissed the meritless claims of two county clerks," New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement Friday, referencing challenges to the law.

"Beginning Monday, the law will help make our roads safer, our economy stronger, and will allow immigrants to come out of the shadows to sign up as legal drivers in our state," she said.

"I am disappointed, and hopefully, this is only a setback," Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola said in a statement posted on the county's Facebook page Friday.

On Monday morning, Merola told CNN the county was referring undocumented applicants to the state Department of Motor Vehicles, citing a lack of training.

"We've never accepted foreign documents, and never had to," he said.

Governor Cuomo ratifies State Senate bill for undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses

THE CITY

Undocumented New Yorkers notched a historic win on Monday night as Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a bill into law restoring their right to apply for a driver’s license.

The governor’s signature came after the state Senate narrowly approved the bill, which had passed the Assembly last week, marking the latest show of force by the newly Democrat-dominated Legislature.

Cuomo injected some last-minute drama earlier in the evening when he publicly weighed a veto, expressing concerns the measure would expose license-holders to the scrutiny of federal immigration officials.

He asked for assurances from state Solicitor General Barbara Underwood that the bill was legally defensible. When her boss, state Attorney General Letitia James, declared the “legislation is well crafted and contains ample protections for those who apply for driver’s licenses,” Cuomo gave in.

“Governor Cuomo has supported this policy for over a decade,” Alphonso David, the governor’s counsel, said in a statement. “The key to this bill is not the political intent but the legal effect. We hope the Attorney General’s assessment is correct for the safety of the thousands of undocumented individuals who are relying on her legal opinion.”

 The bill passed the Senate 33 to 29, with all six Democrats from Long Island and one Hudson Valley Democrat voting against the measure, raising the political stakes for the governor.

Opponents of the bill argued it would handcuff law enforcement officials, and some county clerks have threatened not to follow the law. Supporters say the change will ultimately make roads safer, cutting down on unlicensed drivers.

The bill carries high stakes for an estimated 200,000 immigrant New Yorkers who would be eligible to apply and have been navigating life without access to state-issued identification. For them, standard interactions with law enforcement can lay down the groundwork for deportation.

Organized crime group flooded NYC streets with fake PA license plates

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced criminal charges against a dozen people accused of taking part in a major organized crime ring that fraudulently obtained more than a thousand Pennsylvania license plates and used them to fuel a massive criminal enterprise involving automobiles in multiple states.

By illegally renting the license plates in New York City and other locations, this crime ring profited significantly and allowed those who used the fraudulent plates to avoid paying more than $1 million in parking fines and EZ Pass tolls across several states.

The organized crime ring was headed by Rafael Levi, 50, of Brooklyn, N.Y., Attorney General Shapiro said at a news conference today at the Office of Attorney General in Strawberry Square. Charges were also filed today against 14 Pennsylvania businesses involved in the crime ring. The charges followed an extensive investigation by the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section and a statewide investigative grand jury.

“This organized criminal ring used legitimate business tactics – applying for licenses and insurance, car loans and purchases – for completely illegitimate purposes,” Attorney General Shapiro said at today’s news conference. “From fraudulently-obtained license plates to washed car titles to multiple other frauds, they gamed the system to rack up millions of dollars in illegal profits. It’s widespread criminal conduct and today we brought a halt to it.”

According to a grand jury presentment made public today, here are the major elements of the fraudulent schemes perpetrated by the Levi ring:

• License plates fraudulently obtained : Levi and his associates provided fraudulent documents, to the PA Departments of Transportation and State. As a result, they illegally obtained more than a thousand Pennsylvania license plates. They rented the plates for $400 a month or more. The people who got these plates avoided paying parking fines and EZ Pass tolls totaling $1 million in New York, Pennsylvania and neighborhood states.
• Fake insurance cards: The Levi ring provided cars and vehicles with fake insurance cards. When accidents would happen involving any of these cars, motorists filed claims with insurance companies – but there was no legitimate policy to pay on.
• Washed car titles : The ring issued phony letters to PennDOT which enabled them to get clean titles on vehicles. The Levi ring scammed $500,000 owed to financial institutions through this part of the scheme.
• Fraudulent odometer rollbacks: The ring rolled back odometer readings on 35 cars – enabled them to sell cars for more money than they otherwise would’ve sold for.
• Drivers’ licenses: The ring obtained Pennsylvania drivers licenses at an address in Pennsylvania that they defendants never lived at – another part of the scheme.

“Rafael Levi and his co-defendants used all these criminal schemes to live in the lap of luxury,” Attorney General Shapiro said, citing a prime example: Luxury autos which the ring obtained through fraud, including a red Ferrari.

Through this fraud, the ring would get one of their interlocking dealerships to “buy” a vehicle in cash. The ring then proceeded to wash the car through another of the Levi organization’s many dealerships. The ring avoiding paying more than $100,000 in PA sales tax in this manner.

Attorney General Shapiro said the investigation was ongoing, and investigators have notified law enforcement in other states of possible criminal conduct involving the Levi ring in other states.

This investigation began after the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud Section received information from the Pennsylvania State Police. Agents from the Attorney General’s office worked closely with State Police and investigators from the office of New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman.

Unlicensed drivers may soon face criminal charges

From the Times Ledger:

A rash of pedestrians fatally struck by unlicensed drivers has prompted the Queens leadership to ban together to pass legislation that would make such an act a felony and result in two to four years of jail time.

An Elmhurst woman was the latest victim, run down by a white Mitsubishi box truck allegedly operated by an unlicensed driver, while she was walking in the intersection of Woodside Avenue and 76th Street, police said.

“Unfortunately, the law in New York has not caught up with the facts of these situations,” said state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria), who has written the bill. “Someone who kills someone when driving without a license... the most severe charge they can get is a violation, which is like getting a parking ticket.”

Outraged by the frequency of these types of incidents and the penalties offenders receive, several officials and advocates for safer streets rallied behind Gianaris’ legislative push at a news conference Tuesday in Woodside.

“It’s time that we say give us the keys to your car,” said state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing), “If you smoke a cigarette, the chances of you getting lung cancer are increased. [It’s] the same way if you’re an unlicensed driver. You have a high risk of hitting somebody, [possibly] injuring or killing them.”

Drivers with revoked and or suspended licenses who have caused a loss of life would get more than a slap on the wrist under the proposed legislation.

NY Senate bill would provide citizenship benefits to illegal aliens

From the NY Post:

Illegal aliens in New York could score billions in Medicaid and college tuition money — along with driver’s licenses, voting rights and even the ability to run for office — if Democrats win control of the state Senate in November, The Post has learned.

A little-known bill, dubbed “New York is Home,” would offer the most sweeping amnesty available anywhere in the country to nearly 3 million noncitizens living in the Empire State.

It would bar police from releasing any information about them to the feds, unless it involves a criminal warrant unrelated to their immigration status.

Under the proposed legislation, undocumented immigrants could also apply for professional licenses and serve on juries.

The plan hinges on Democrats — who now control both the governorship and the state Assembly — wresting control of the Senate from Republicans, who oppose immigration amnesty.

GOP officials maintain that amnesty for illegal aliens would open the door to fraud and abuse and increase the risk of terrorism.

For example, the bill would let illegals vote in local and state elections, but they would be barred by federal law from voting for presidential or congressional candidates.

"State citizenship" proposed for illegal aliens

From the Daily News:

Undocumented immigrants in New York could become “state citizens” with a slew of benefits from driver’s licenses to voting rights under a bill to be introduced Monday.

Advocates are set to announce the measure that would allow immigrants who aren’t U.S. citizens to become New York State citizens if they can prove they’ve lived and paid taxes in the state for three years and pledge to uphold New York laws — regardless of whether they’re in the country legally.

The state bill, which would apply to about 2.7 million New Yorkers, will face long odds in Albany, where even more modest immigration reforms have failed to pass.

People who secured state citizenship would be able to vote in state and local elections and run for state office. They could get a driver’s license, a professional license, Medicaid and other benefits controlled by the state. Immigrants would also be eligible for in-state tuition and financial aid.

Cuomo's priority is not driver licenses for illegals

From the Daily News:

Gov. Cuomo said Sunday a proposal to let undocumented immigrants get drivers licenses in New York is going nowhere for now.

“I think what we’re focusing on this year is the DREAM Act,” Cuomo said, referring to the measure that would allow undocumented immigrants to get state financial aid for college. “I don’t think any other license proposal has any credibility this year.”

Immigrant groups launched a push earlier this year to allow those in the country illegally to get licenses, which eleven states now allow. Bills to change New York’s policy have been introduced in the Assembly and the Senate.

DeBlasio thinks illegal aliens should have driver's licenses

From CBS New York:

New York City Public Advocate and Democratic mayoral hopeful Bill de Blasio announced his immigration proposal on the steps of City Hall Thursday morning.

De Blasio’s package of reforms to help undocumented immigrants includes reducing collaboration with federal detention and deportation efforts and issuing a universal city ID card to residents. The agenda also urges the state to allow the undocumented to apply for New York State driver’s licenses.

“We need to make sure that people who need a driver’s license for their work, for their lives are getting it the right way and are part of our system and have the same checks and balances as everyone else,” de Blasio told reporters including WCBS 880′s Rich Lamb.

New road safety bills passed by State Senate

From Bayside-Douglaston Patch:

The state Senate has passed three pieces of driver safety legislation sponsored by Sen. Tony Avella, D-Bayside, including one that would result in the suspension of licenses for drivers under 18 years of age who commit certain violations.

One bill would prohibit the use of radar and laser blocking devices in all motor vehicles, while another would incorporate standards for low volume road classification into state highway law.

Avella said the bills are vital to the safety of the state’s drivers. Under current law, penalties imposed on inexperienced drivers for failing to abide by restrictions on the hours new drivers can be on the road as well as the number of passengers they can carry are insufficient in deterring vehicle and traffic law violations, the senator said.

You can now register to vote online

From the Daily News:

Registering to vote is now as easy as making a few clicks on a mouse.

People with a valid driver’s license or state-issued non-driver’s ID can use the website of the state Department of Motor Vehicles to register to vote or to update their current registration, Gov. Cuomo announced Thursday.

“It is going to make it much easier for voters to register, and that is always a good thing,” said Mylan Denerstein, Cuomo’s counsel.

State officials also announced plans to place electronic voter registration terminals in all local DMV offices.

Denerstein said the initiative would boost New York's sagging voter enrollment numbers and also save taxpayers money by streamlining the DMV’s handling of voter registrations.

The state ranks 47th in the nation in voter registration, with less than 64% of eligible residents registered, according to Cuomo administration officials.

Now, will anyone actually use it?

From the NY Times:

Dutch Kills Green is not a headline about a crackdown on cannabis-friendly Amsterdam coffee shops. It’s the name of a newly opened 1.5-acre swath of open space at Queens Plaza.

The green was unveiled on Wednesday by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and a throng of other officials in a double ceremony: also to be celebrated was the ribbon-cutting of JetBlue’s new headquarters in Long Island City, Queens.

The green, at the east end of Queens Plaza on the site of the former John F. Kennedy commuter parking lot, includes wetlands, non-invasive and drought-tolerant native plants and stylish benches. It is part of a $45 million overhaul of Queens Plaza.

The green’s name was chosen in a contest; it was submitted by two contestants, Harry Charalambides and James Stark. Dutch Kills is a short tributary of Newtown Creek that juts up into Long Island City.

I don't know, but for millions of dollars, I expected something a little more welcoming. Of course, it IS Queens Plaza.

Fake IDs bought on Jackson Heights streets

From the NY Post:

It’s a passport to trouble — and it can be bought for just $260 on the streets of Jackson Heights, Queens.

In just one hour, The Post was able to buy a phony green card, Social Security card and New York state driver’s license from a stranger on a corner — all of which could serve as a gateway to obtain legitimate IDs.

The cards are frighteningly real — convincing enough to fool creditors, potential employers and security at buildings and even the airport.

Experts said the biggest fear is that these IDs are being bought by people who slipped past border crossings.