Texas Changes Drivers License Format For Non-Citizens
Texas has now enacted a very controversial law requiring foreign nationals to get a different type of drivers license than that used for U.S. citizens. The license will have a vertical, rather than horizontal, orientation, so it will be instantly recognizable by anyone who sees it — including potential landlords or employers. The licenses will also be stamped with the words "temporary visitor" and will list the date the legal residency expires.
The Department of Public Safety is instructed not to issue or renew licenses for any immigrant who is here illegally, or who has overstayed his or her residency. The DPS also will not issue licenses to legal immigrants who have permission to stay for fewer than six months.
Aside from the obvious concerns about profiling, some people worry that illegal immigrants will now not be able to get auto insurance since they won't have drivers licenses. This could increase Texas' already extremely high percentage of drivers who do not have auto liability insurance, thereby driving up the costs of auto insurance for the rest of us.
On the problem of illegals and auto insurance. The mandatory auto insurance laws do not work and the insurance industry would rather have those with the 25,000$ vehicles get collision insurance (which reimburses the whole 25,000$ damage done by uninsured motorists) rather than use the mandatory approach, which in many cases will only reimburse 10,000$ of damage, if hit by someone insured.
There is also the problem of an increase in food stamps due to mand auto insurance laws. Dr Maril did a study for the insurance people that showed 44% of those responding said they could not buy food due to mand auto insurance (http://www.autoreform.org/090998mar.pdf)
I also did a study which showed 12 of 96 food stamp applicants said auto insurance was a reason for needing food stamps (http://www.foodstampstudy.com)
Hank Hudson of the Montana DPHHS is incorrect and Allen Nichols is correct, you can have a food stamp skyrocket due to mandatory auto insurance laws. We need further studies on this but Hank Hudson and Joan Miles of the Montana DPHHS will not allow this, even tho the USDA has no objection.