Driver's Test Only In English Under House Measures

Lawmakers on House committees voted today to require that driver’s license tests be provided only in English and to also make English the official language of Oklahoma government.

“As our common American language, English and the ‘melting pot’ process it supports has made the United States the most successful multi-ethnic nation in history,” said Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore. “Unfortunately, the recent drive to linguistically Balkanize our nation makes it harder for legal immigrants to assimilate while also creating potential hazards for other Oklahomans."

House Bill 2252, by Terrill, eliminates the current requirement for the Department of Public Safety to provide driver’s license tests in Spanish.

Terrill noted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s regulations require drivers engaged in interstate commerce to “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway traffic signs and signals in the English language, to respond to official inquiries and to make entries on reports and records.”

Action now moves to the House floor.

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Legislators Urge DL Exam Sites Retention

Reps. Ryan McMullen and Ryan Kiesel today urged colleagues to work to prevent the closure of over half of the state's driver's license examination sites.

More than 30 driver's license examination stations may be closed this year due to budget short-falls at the Department of Public Safety, according to recent reports.

The department is considering a plan to reduce the number of sites from 59 to 27.

"This is the reason folks get frustrated with government. People should expect something like obtaining a driver's license to be relatively hassle-free," said McMullen, D-Burns Flat. "I assure you that when people are forced to drive as much as 200 extra miles and wait in line an extra couple of hours for something as basic as a driver's license, people will be justifiably upset."

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Laws Require Special Driver's Licenses

From www.newsok.com ~ New laws taking effect today will require sex offenders and noncitizens to obtain special driver's licenses or identification cards. The Oklahoma Corrections Department will notify aggravated or habitual sex offenders that they need to get new licenses, which will have the words, "sex offender,” printed on them in three places. Offenders will have 180 days to obtain the new licenses, which must be renewed each year. Noncitizens who are able to prove they are in the country legally will receive licenses marked "temporary.” The licenses are good for four years or less.

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