Hedlund’s Illegal Immigrant Motor Vehicle Reforms Sent to Governor Patrick

The Massachusetts State Legislature is making an effort to prevent illegal aliens from registering or operating motor vehicles in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Last month, The Massachusetts State Legislature voted to include the legislation, which was offered by Senator Robert Hedlund (R-Weymouth)  in the FY2013 state budget.

According to the office of Senator Hedlund, the legislation requires any person that registers a car in Massachusetts  to hold a license, social security number, or other proof of legal residence. Currently the Registry of Motor Vehicles only requires applicants to include their name, address, proof of insurance, and date of birth on the application to secure a so- called “X” registration.

In addition, the bill toughens penalties for those caught driving without a valid license, increasing the minimum fine from $100 to $500 for a first offense, and establishing a penalty of fine up to $1,000 for a second offense, and a fine of up to $2,000 for a third offense.

The budget now heads to Governor Deval Patrick where he has ten days to issue vetoes.

“This is one of the more practical yet simple initiatives we have passed in recent years in Beacon Hill,” Senator Hedlund said in a written statement. “This is a concrete measure that strikes at the heart of the support structure that allows illegal immigrants to register and operate motor vehicles all while avoiding prosecution for immigration violations.”

Hedlund first filed legislation in 2005 after learning about the problem of “X” registration from local law enforcement. “X” registration is the registration number issued by the Registry of Motor Vehicles when an applicant does not produce a driver’s license at the time a vehicle is being registered.

“The policy of the Registry of Motor Vehicles effectively enables unlicensed drivers and illegal aliens to operate on the Commonwealth’s roadways,” Hedlund said. “This legislation puts an end to this ridiculous policy and stops illegal aliens from being able to register vehicles.”

The office of Senator Hedlund  has cited many instances where unlicensed and illegal aliens operating vehicles has become a more highly publicized issue in Massachusetts:

• In October 2009, Richard Grossi was killed when Maria Leite, an unlicensed illegal immigrant, allegedly drove through a stop sign and a blinking red light before crashing into Grossi’s car.
• In February 2011, Andrea Agosto was killed when Manuel Zaruma, an illegal immigrant, allegedly lost control of his friend’s car and spun into the opposite lane, smashing into the car in which Agosto was a passenger.
• In August 2011, Nicolas D. Guaman, who was in the country illegally, was arrested after his vehicle allegedly struck and killed 23-year old Matthew J. Denice.
• In June 2012, Auricelli Braga, 32, an illegal alien from Brazil, was charged with motor-vehicle homicide following a two-car crash in Canton on June 24 which killed 64-year old grandmother Sara Escudero.

“These tragedies occurred because a loophole exists that enables people without driver’s licenses and without any sort of training to register get behind the wheel of a car,” Senator Hedlund said.