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Because Freedom Can't Protect Itself.

Dear friends,

On Thursday the Maine Legislature will hold hearings on three bills that seek to impose new driver's license restrictions. We'll be there to oppose the bills, which could cause an unfair burden on some Maine people.

Join us in opposing:
LD 8, An Act to Limit the Duration of a Legal Alien's Driver's License

LD 84, An Act to Standardize Documentation Requirements for a Driver's License or Nondriver Identification Card

LD 209, An Act to Require That a Person Be a Maine Resident in Order to Be Issued a Maine Driver's License

Why do we oppose these bills?
On its face, the idea of residency restrictions may seem innocuous. But residency restrictions are an insidious way of creating barriers to social services. Low income individuals, the homeless or more mobile members of our population like students may not have a lease or utilities bill, thus lacking the ability to easily "prove" residency. By setting up residency restrictions, the government may deny certain people access to the benefits the rest of us enjoy.

All three bills are intended to keep undocumented immigrants from obtaining drivers' licenses. But by targeting immigrants for discrimination, these bills violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution by singling out non-citizens for different treatment under the law without any legitimate justification. Such bills will encourage ethnic profiling of all immigrants and people who look like immigrants, when in fact most immigrants come to this country legally, in order to pursue the American dream and to escape discrimination and persecution.

Driver's licenses are meant to prove that people are safe to drive. They shouldn't be used to establish residency, to turn BMV workers into immigration authorities, or to create barriers for poor people to get the same rights as everybody else.

Participate!
Ever wanted to see what goes on in Augusta firsthand? Here's your chance- attend the hearing! Anyone can go and speak. You don't have to say much; it's as easy as standing up and announcing that you oppose the bills. Exercise your right to participate in the process!

Here are the details:
Thursday, March 22, 1 pm
Maine State House Room 126
State House Station, Augusta
Get directions here

Our attorney Zach Heiden will be there to testify against the bills. Feel free to introduce yourself! We're always excited to meet fellow civil libertarians.

Can't make it to Augusta? Take a minute to contact your local legislators today and tell them to oppose LDs 8, 84 and 209. Tell them these bills create unfair barriers for some people to enjoy the same rights as everybody else. Residency restrictions could create an undue burden for poor people to obtain licenses. Driver's licenses are meant to prove that people are safe to drive, but these bills may discourage people living in Maine from getting a license or renewing an old one.

Find your State legislators' contact information here:
http://www.maine.gov/portal/government/edemocracy/lookup_officials.php

Or call and leave them a message:
House message line: (800) 423-2900
Senate message line: (800) 423-6900

With your help, we can help make sure that all Maine people enjoy equality and fairness under the law.
Thanks for all you do.

Sincerely,
Rachel

Rachel L. Myers
Field Organizer
Maine Civil Liberties Union
www.mclu.org

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