LATINO GROUP SUES STATE OVER VEHICLE REGISTRATION POLICY – Ohio

The Advocate — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:54:53 +0000

The Columbus Dispatch reports that a Hispanic advocacy group filed suit yesterday to bar enforcement of a state plan to revoke registrations of vehicles whose owners cannot provide proof of legal residency by Dec. 8. The League of United Latin American Citizens accused the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles of illegally intruding in immigration matters and asked the Franklin County Common Pleas Court for a temporary injunction. Moving on a policy enacted Aug. 24, the BMV mailed nearly 50,000 letters in early October telling vehicle owners their registrations would be cancelled unless they offered proof of U.S. residency such as a driver’s license or proof of a Social Security number, although police were told not to issue tickets or make arrests until after Dec. 8. Lawyers for the League argued that the authority to inquire into the immigration status of state residents is uniquely a federal responsibility, and that the BMV’s policy violates privacy and property rights by cancelling valid registrations. A BMV spokeswoman said the policy wasn’t directed at immigrants but is an attempt to enforce state law, deter fraud and ensure that registrations are “secure and reliable.” A hearing for the case has been set for next Tuesday.

For full story, see: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/11/25/copy/plates.ART_ART_11-25-09_A1_2GFQ01D.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

Akron Beacon Journal: http://www.ohio.com/news/politics/state/72776002.html

Cleveland Plain Dealer: http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/national-80/1259086827208090.xml&storylist=cleveland

Dayton Daily News: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/ohio-news/hispanic-group-sues-ohio-over-license-plate-policy-418693.html?showComments=true

USA Today: http://content.usatoday.net/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=cincinnati&sParam=32132297.story

Ohio Legal Info » Dispatch

LATINO GROUP SUES STATE OVER VEHICLE REGISTRATION POLICY – Ohio