The DMV Subcommittee tabled a bill that would have suspended Virginia's driver privilege cards for undocumented immigrants by a 5-3 vote, while advancing a package of bills on driver education accountability, tow operator records access, motorcycle safety clinics, disabled veteran license plates, and motor carrier enforcement — most by unanimous margins.
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Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. argued the bill was 'common sense legislation' upholding the rule of law and contended driver privilege cards bring individuals in the country illegally one step closer to registering to vote. Ashley Elstad countered the bill would deny immigrant workers access to employment and further burden their families, while John Kano argued it would eliminate cards relied on by thousands of Virginians, remove road safety especially in rural areas, destabilize families, and harm local economies without delivering any public benefit. Adele Y. McClure made a substitute motion to table the bill citing the public testimony; the tabling motion prevailed 5 to 3 over a competing motion to report.
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“When you send folks who are here illegally to DMV to get driver privilege cards that are one step closer to registering to vote, and obviously nobody in this room would want people to vote who weren't citizens of the United States.”
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Sign in to subscribeThe clerk will close the roll. Welcome to the first meeting of the Department of Motor Vehicle Subcommittee. I have the pleasure of serving as chair. Before proceeding with today's agenda, I would like to explain the ground rules. As chair, it's my duty to keep order in decorum and ensure that the subcommittee operates effectively and efficiently. We may not always agree on the issues before us, but it is my hope that our discourse will remain civil and that the work of the subcommittee will take place in an atmosphere of cooperation and collaboration. All discussion must flow through the chair. I ask all members of the subcommittee to use your Request to speak button when you have questions or comments. I will recognize you in the order that you have asked to be recognized. And I will also ask that we allow sufficient and equal time to hear from the public and allow questions from members for bill proceedings. I will allow a max of 5 minutes for patrons to present their bill to Committee and 60 seconds per speaker in favor or in opposition, unless otherwise noted. Then we will return to the committee members for…
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