Driving - a right or a privilege

I got a "page not found" on your link, but I'll respond anyway. If it's a right, why do we have driver's licenses for anyone? Especially legal citizens of this country... why do we need them, if they don't? No, driving is not a right. Twisted logic might try to claim that it is, but it isn't. Maybe it should be illegal to own a vehicle without a driver's license? The they could be taken and sold to someone who could produce a license. Of course, there would still be "stuff" going on, but maybe not as easily. If we have the right to drive without a license, then we can vote without being of age and we can own a house without paying property tax and we can drive a car without insurance and on and on... laws are there for our own protection.

As soon as I read the title, I thought "Heh...see, people need licenses to drive, so why do people fuss about voter ID laws!?" I can't see how driving is a right. Walking is a right. Being a pedestrian, you don't need anything. But once you're operating a motor vehicle, you have to comply with certain standards for safety reasons, one of the biggest standards being, of course, actually having a license to operate that motor vehicle. If someone here illegally thinks it's their "right" to drive, well, I can't help with that too much. Some people believe it's their right to own an iPad and other luxuries. Some people believe you have the right to the highest level of healthcare possible simply because you're alive. Some believe you have a right to a job, regardless of skill or work ethic. I would only say that people need to define rights a little better. Don't expect so much as a right and you won't be so let down. Here's an idea: All you folks who believe it's a human right to drive, to have a job, to have an iPad, to have a car, to have a home, etc, gather up and start your own country. I'm not sure how you'll afford it. I'm not sure how you'll even get any money at all. But as it stands now, your "rights" are infringing on the wallets of hard-working people who actually earn money. They're threatening the safety of good law-abiding citizens. That's obviously in a general sense and not pertaining only to the license deal. For that specifically, don't forget to add that law--or lack of a law--to your newly formed nation! Allow anyone to drive, whether or not they prove to be safe or of a responsible age, etc. In fact, don't even hold their vehicles to any standards with inspections. Don't have them registered either! It's your right to drive. So go have at it. (How you gonna get fuel without money? CRAP! That's another "right" I forgot about. My bad.) I hear there's a lot of land in northern Canada that no one is using. The good news: You can drive there.

Driving is a right and a priveledge. People should be made to be able to prove proof of a Drivers license, and insurance just to prove who the car really belongs too, and to help in case of accidents, etc. I know that back in the day when I lived in CA I had a temporary permit/license for driving for my job I did. But it did expire, and was only supposed to be used at certain times. But in reality I always wonder if something would have ever happened who would really be responsible then? To not have to be legally responsible could cost a lot more money for sure.

I think it is fine. Anyone who is hit by a non-insured driver will say it is fine to. Driving is a privilege, not a right. If it was a "right" then why is there an age limit..have to be 16. Why not let 10 year olds drive? Isn't it their right? Of course not. It is a privilege and goes with rules. If anything, allow them to have insurance without a license cause if they can they will drive. I'd rather be hit by someone with insurance, than someone with a piece of plastic in their pocket. ANd just cause they have a license, doesn't mean they are a good driver. I thin insurance is far more important. And have you been to LA to see the traffic issues? The "mass transit" only goes so far. There is only a few of them and they don't go to all cities. And even then, they end at the general "edge of town" and if you office is on the other side of town..how do you get there? More public transit, all of which are on a time schedule...if the public transit doesn't meet your employment time frame..you are out of luck. And in some kinds of jobs like construction..you are required to supply your own tools..that means you have to carry buckets and tool boxes onto the "public transit"..and have a place to set them down..etc. Can you see the problem with that? And what about doctors...they get a call for an emergency..."okay, let me get out the bus schedule and see when the next bus is". Or.."well, tell them to hold of...the red line doesn't leave for another hour". Or if you are a working mother...school calls,your child broke his arm falling off hte jungle gym"...you have to say"well let him sit or send him to the ER alone as the next metro link doesn't leave for 3 hours". Public transit is good, but only for so far. I say that at least make the illegals get insurance. If they don't...then take their car away. At impounds, to get it out you have to show valid DL, Insurance and Registration...they would only have one so they wouldn't be able to get their car...meaning they'd be off the streets.

By themselves, these impound fees don't solve really the problem : who will pay for the damages when there is an accident due to a vehicle with no insurance ? As USA have ratified the international convention recognizing an International Driving Permit in 1949, maybe it would be a wise decision that the state of California recognized IDP to authorize illegal immigrants having a foreign license to have an insurance. I know that foreign tourists are driving with their foreign drivers license in USA, but I am not sure that it is really legal in California as long as the IDP is not recognized by this state. Anyways, if these people are hundred of thousands, I think that it is more urgent to find a way to force/encourage them to have an insurance than to extend car pounds.

I don't know. I get the fact that they want to stop immigrants from driving, especially that they don't have insurance. I know they are there illegal and everything but on the other hand I understand their need for a better life. That's why they go to USA. In my opinion it's not a black or white issue.

Since this is an anti illegal and pro law the NYT may have moved it to their paid subscription section on the net so as not to offend anyone. I think it is a great idea. If the person driving the car is not the owner then the owner should have to pay a fine or the driver faces auto theft charges. I am suprised that CA is the state doing this, maybe there is hope for some sanity in CA.

it is definitely a privledge! what does CA do about elderly drivers? here in ontario (Canada) they are tested when they are 80, but NOT given a road test, just a written test which is just wrong. i live in a city that is about 40 minutes to Toronto and Toronto, being one of the big 3 largest cities (Montreal and Vancouver being the other two) it is sort of like NYC where it is pointless to own a car. lots of people live in my city and commute to Toronto. i think illegal drivers should be punished!

If we called driving a right than the entitlement crowd on the left would be screaming that either the government or automakers must give us all free cars. The simple fact is that it is a large, and dangerous motor vehicle. I see nothing wrong with requiring a license to drive. I also see nothing wrong with impounding vehicles being driven by illegal aliens.

Don't you hate when the good thought you wanted to post pops out of your head? that just happened to me. In any case, I know some Illegals who have a driver's license, illegally obtained, but from our State. If California, and LA County want to get rid of those motorists without a license, they need to impound the vehicles, they need to make those take the public transit systems and / or a cab to and from work or the grocery store each day. Though the thing about it is, if we were to take all of the illegal residents out of America, it'd make a very very very very drastic drop in population here.

I don't think that anyone has the "right" to drive. At the end of the day, a vehicle is a heavy machine which could do a lot of damage if it were put into the wrong hands; so it is seriously important that the person who is allowed to drive is responsible. I think that more should be done about people who speed in their car because they obviously don't care all that much about safety on the roads if they're driving too fast. People should have to have a driving refresher lesson every two years to make sure that they still know how to drive properly.

I think, just to respond significantly to your question, you can drive, is a right, but not a privilege. I could write pages and pages about the advantages and disadvantages of driving a vehicle. Starting from the assumption, however, to speak of drivers with a valid license. I am only able to mention the responsibility of those who drive motor vehicles. Surely a matter of primary importance is that any car, if misused, it is a real weapon! So, ok to drive, but regularly and with great caution!

It's a privilege for anyone whether you are a U.S. citizen or not. I understand what they are trying to do, but I don't think its quite going to work the way they want it to work. The main reason being is because you have U.S. citizens who will drive with no license or who already have it suspended or even teenagers who can drive but have no license or licensed driver available. Are they only catching these people at sobriety points where they may be driving too fast? I don't think it is wise to allow people with no license or insurance to keep driving because of how big the city is. After all, in order to get your license in the state I live in, you have to pass a written test and then a driving test to show that you do know driving laws, understand the signs, and so on. I have to agree that taking away the vehicles and having people pay impound fees is a better plan.

I also got the page not found but here it goes... Why would anyone be allowed to drive without a licence, whether they are in the country legally or not? I have to have a drivers licence to drive here in Canada, as does everyone. What makes ANYBODY think that they are above the law? What makes them think that they can put other peoples lives in danger, because that's what it amounts to, by driving without a licence? A drivers licence ensures other drivers that you know the rules of the road, that you have passed a test proving that you are a capable driver. I realize that even people with drivers licences can be unsafe drivers or not follow the rules of the road sometimes or just be plain bad drivers, but at least they are CAPABLE of being safe drivers. They just for some reason choose not to. I would consider those driving without a licence to be unsafe. And if they ARE safe and CAPABLE drivers what's the big deal...go get your licence!