hbb@houxt.UUCP (05/01/84)
At least in N.J., it is not (legally) possible to hold a license for N.J.
and simultaneously hold one for a different state (I am referring to passenger
car licenses. I have no info regarding interstate truckers and the like.) My
information comes from the Department of Motor Vehicles of N.J. at Freehold,
N.J.
The person I spoke to there indicated that the restriction was not instituted
that long ago, but that she didn't know the reasoning that led to its adoption.
What I would like to know is the reason for this restriction. I would have
expected that as long as one would pay the registration fees for each state,
there would be no objection on the part of any state to "multi-licensing."
Anyone with an explanation?
--
Harlan B. Braude
{houxm,allegra,harpo,hogpc,ihnp4,zehntel,ucbvax,sdcsvax,eagle,burl}!houxt!hbbstanwyck@ihuxr.UUCP (Don Stanwyck) (05/02/84)
The primary reason (I assume) for not allowing drivers to hold multiple licenses has to do with the issue of points and related matters. First, most states only allow you to have one of their licenses if you live in the state that is issuing the license. Secondly, allowing a driver to hold multiple licences may allow a driver who has had his license suspended in one state (e.g. drunk driving) to continue to drive on the other licence totally unrestricted. Likewise, points assessed against one license would not be reflected on other licenses. Alternative thoughts?? -- ________ ( ) Don Stanwyck @( o o )@ 312-979-3062 ( || ) Cornet-367-3062 ( \__/ ) ihnp4!ihuxr!stanwyck (______) Bell Labs @ Naperville, IL
rbg@cbosgd.UUCP (Richard Goldschmidt) (05/02/84)
One reason why they might not want people to have more than one drivers
license is that when you get a ticket for a moving violation it counts
towards removal of your license. If you could have multiple licenses,
you could rotate which one you presented if you got lots of tickets, and
lots of people whose license should be suspended or revoked would continue
driving.
Richard Goldschmidt {ucbvax} rbg@cbosgd
AT&T Bell Labs, Columbuswetcw@pyuxa.UUCP (T C Wheeler) (05/02/84)
[[ Not too long ago, all 50 states were hooked up to exchange information concerning driver's license revokation. There was a time when you could hold two or more licenses. Now, with the hookup, if a license is revoked in one state, they tell all of the others. This was a bone of contention with the Missing Child centers in that you could find out about drivers licenses throughout the country, but could not pass information about missing children.
lenoil@mit-eddie.UUCP (Robert Scott Lenoil) (05/02/84)
One good reason for prohibiting "multi-licensing" is that a person could accumulate twice as many points for moving violations before forfeiting his license (by presenting alternate licenses for each violation). And even then, he'd still be able to drive, until he had to give up the second one as well. Just imagine a maniac with drivers licenses from 13 states! The only solution would be if all 50 states shared motor vehicle data.
mlh@abnjh.UUCP (M. L. Holt) (05/02/84)
Possesing more that one driver's license would make it easy to keep driving after a suspension or revocation. All states don't communicate these to all other states, do they? MIke Holt abnjh!mlh
fish@ihu1g.UUCP (Bob Fishell) (05/02/84)
(oo)
I think it goes something like this. Person has a valid driver's
license issued in New York and one issued in Ohio. Person gets
drunk out of his mind and gets picked up by the police for doing
60mph down the wrong side of the street in a 30-mph zone. Result:
The judge takes his Ohio license away. No problem. Person has
a valid New York license, which is also valid in Ohio, keeps
driving, gets another ticket. Since he has a valid license, how
can he be prosecuted for driving while his license is under suspension?
--
Bob Fishell
ihnp4!ihu1g!fish2212zap@mhuxm.UUCP (putnins) (05/03/84)
Why does NJ not want a person to hold more than one driver's license? 1) The person holds a license from NY and NJ. Every time he gets stopped for speeding, crossing double yellow lines, running stop signs, etc., he shows the officer his NY license. His NJ license is still clean, and he would not have to pay the fine or increased insurance costs. 2) The person holds a NJ license, and accumulates enough points to get suspended. What does he do? Goes to an adjoining state, gets a new license (it is NOT that difficult) and continues to drive in NJ. If he gets stopped, he shows his out-of-state license, and goes along his way. Some people in our office discussed this as great length, going through the difficulties, the problems and the solutions to getting an out-of-state license, and the benefits of doing so. It seems very possible to do.
wmartin@brl-vgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (05/03/84)
Possession of a state's drivers license is used by other laws and regulations to prove that the possessor has a legal residence in that state. For example, the BATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, & Firearms) regulations regarding the filling out of the federal form required when you purchase any cartridge firearm explicitly refer to the use of a drivers license as identification which proves that you are a resident of that state. (The general rule is that, with certain specific exceptions, you must be a resident within the state where you purchase the firearm, and demonstrate that to the dealer from whom your purchase it.) So having drivers licenses from other states can be used to circumvent this sort of thing. If that license clearly showed your address to be in another state than the one issuing the license, this may not be applicable -- do all states have the address on the license? (Missouri does, and that's the only one I know for sure.) Will
ron@brl-vgr.ARPA (Ron Natalie <ron>) (05/03/84)
It's to prevent people from escaping penalties for repeated violations and to keep people whose license has been revoked or suspended off the road. Most states will not issue you a license until you surender your out of state one. There is even a national drivers database system that is supposed to prevent multiple licensing and relicensing of revoked drivers. -Ron
ctc@ccivax.UUCP (05/04/84)
<bugeater> If as mit-eddie!lenoil says the only answer is to have all 50 states share licensing data, which of you will be the first to your terminal to flame about invasion of privacy? Also under our constitution I am not sure that this type of data sharing is either legal or wise. If you start at driver licensing data where does it end.