AJC report on yesterday’s House Judiciary Committee decision on SB 15

Legislature 2007: Driver’s license bill clears House panel

By Brian Feagans
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/13/07

A Senate-passed bill that would make driving without a license a felony on the third offense cleared a key House committee Thursday over objections that the penalty is too harsh.

Rep. Roger Bruce (D-Atlanta) launched a lively debate —- one that eventually centered on illegal immigrants —- after questioning the logic of SB 15. Someone shouldn’t be stripped of their voting rights and put in prison for up to five years for failing to have a Georgia driver’s license, even on the third offense, Bruce said.

“Because you don’t have a license doesn’t mean you don’t know how to drive,” Bruce told fellow members of the House Judiciary Committee.

But Sen. John Wiles (R-Marietta) said Georgia can’t tolerate people driving its roads without passing a driving exam. Some may not be able to see well or know the rules of the road, Wiles said.

Wiles said violators currently receive a mere “slap on the wrist,” but under his bill they would face two days in jail for a first offense, 10 days for a second and 1-5 years on a third violation —- a felony.

A Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund representative told the committee the felony provision would make Georgia’s unlicensed driver’s penalty far more severe than any other state’s. It constitutes cruel and unusual punishment barred by the Constitution, said Isaiah Delemar, who heads up MALDEF’s regional office in Atlanta.

That prompted D.A. King, president of the Dustin Inman Society, to point out that he knows several people —- including the teen his group is named for —- who died in wrecks caused by illegal immigrants. “What we’re trying to do is deter people from moving to Georgia, getting a license plate and driving with impunity,” King said.

Rep. Edward Lindsey (R-Atlanta) also questioned Delemar’s logic before he and the other committee members passed the bill. He asked Delemar how many violations it would take to warrant a felony. “Five, seven, 10?” he asked.

See here for complete report