AL Immigration Law: Just When You Thought It Couldn't Get Worse...

[jthomas666]

It gets worse.
A LOT worse.

Anyone who owns a vehicle in Jefferson County will face long waits at the two county courthouses under Alabama's tough new immigration law, which requires everyone applying for or renewing a license plate to provide proof that they're in the country legally.

That means no more online license plate renewals because the county is not equipped to accept proof of legal status in an online transaction. In a county where staffing already has been reduced by an ongoing financial crisis, that likely means many hours stewing in line.

"I hate to use the term, but it's almost catastrophic for Jefferson County because of our current financial situation, and we have closed four of our six offices already," Revenue Director Travis Hulsey said. "We have reduced personnel from 204 positions down to 128 positions. It will require additional demands on our staff."

Basically, the two county courthouses will have lines rivaling those outside Bryant- Denny. Every day.

The Alabama legislature: Screwing things up since 1819.

 

[DiamondDust]

Another reason why I'm glad I don't live in Jefferson County anymore. It'd be hilarious if they forced Scott Beason to work the lines at the courthouse.

 

[gmart74]

only in america do we absolutely refuse to solve a problem in the quickest, most efficient way, and instead choose to make everyone's lives worse as we still do not solve the problem.

 

[jthomas666]

only in america do we absolutely refuse to solve a problem in the quickest, most efficient way, and instead choose to make everyone's lives worse as we still do not solve the problem.

So what, you advocate shooting incompetent lawmakers instead of voting them out of office?

 

[Tide1986]

It's not my problem that Jefferson County is unable to manage its affairs. The immigration law simply makes more evident the county's inefficiency and incompetence -- that's not the fault of the new law. Thankfully, I live in Shelby County and have purposefully chosen to never live in Jefferson County.

 

[Bama Reb]

It's not my problem that Jefferson County is unable to manage its affairs. The immigration law simply makes more evident the county's inefficiency and incompetence -- that's not the fault of the new law. Thankfully, I live in Shelby County and have purposefully chosen to never live in Jefferson County.

Ditto. I moved from there in 1996.

 

[gmart74]

So what, you advocate shooting incompetent lawmakers instead of voting them out of office?

ummmmmmmmm............ of course not.

 

[Bodhisattva]

ummmmmmmmm............ of course not.

What if a politician in question is really old?

 

[gmart74]

What if a politician in question is really old?

then one should probably just beat them soundly.

 

[TideAlum]

Anyone who has been going to the courthouses for a simple license plate renewal doesn't value their time or enjoys interacting with some of the worst workers in the state. Mailing your renewal in has always been the most efficient and more cost effective way to renew a license plate. This law will just force individuals to include a copy of their driver's license when mailing in their renewal. Sure it's a nuisance, and the legislature clearly didn't think about the ramifications of parts of the law, but it's not the doom and gloom that is being predicted.

 

[Bamaro]

It gets worse.
A LOT worse.



Basically, the two county courthouses will have lines rivaling those outside Bryant- Denny. Every day.

Its like that here all the time.

 

[Jim Morris]

This is a problem that effects all courthouses in the state of Alabama. A friend who is license director for a local county tells me that because of the law, internet and mail orders will not be allowed because of the citizenship mandate. He's more than ....ed because he's sunk a lot of money into building the internet and mail option. He's hoping they will amend the law by September 1 but is preparing for long lines and the possibility that many people will decide to not renew.

 

[TideAlum]

This is a problem that effects all courthouses in the state of Alabama. A friend who is license director for a local county tells me that because of the law, internet and mail orders will not be allowed because of the citizenship mandate. He's more than ....ed because he's sunk a lot of money into building the internet and mail option. He's hoping they will amend the law by September 1 but is preparing for long lines and the possibility that many people will decide to not renew.

The linked article specifically states that mail orders will continue.

 

[Jim Morris]

The linked article specifically states that mail orders will continue.

Then what I have to say about the matter is irrelevant, which is much like this stupid, unconstitutional law that was lawmakers tried to pass while no one was looking.

 

[Tide1986]

What I'm intrigued by is the fact that the State of Alabama already has record of my driver's license and my birth. Why I have to provide a copy of something the State already has is somewhat confusing to me. I guess it's just another example of government efficiency.

 

[Tide1986]

Then what I have to say about the matter is irrelevant, which is much like this stupid, unconstitutional law that was lawmakers tried to pass while no one was looking.

Hmmm...from my perspective, the legislature did not deal with this issue "behind closed doors" or in the "dark of night". Personally, I'm okay with the law, and I'm glad that our state is asserting the powers it rightfully retains under the Constitution.

 

[Mayberry4Tide]

What I'm intrigued by is the fact that the State of Alabama already has record of my driver's license and my birth. Why I have to provide a copy of something the State already has is somewhat confusing to me. I guess it's just another example of government efficiency.

I agree, and just to add, I will gladly pay extra if that is what it takes to get illegal immigration under control. Increased taxes shouldn't be necessary if wasteful spending was cut out. Problem is who defines what wasteful spending is. I'm already at the point where I don't know who to vote for anymore because their agenda never seems clear. I wish I could earmark a percentage of my taxes to go to the issues I care about the most.

 

[lazlohollyfeld]

What I'm intrigued by is the fact that the State of Alabama already has record of my driver's license and my birth. Why I have to provide a copy of something the State already has is somewhat confusing to me. I guess it's just another example of government efficiency.

I am sure they are held on two separate databases and the question would be why has someone not linked the two? You have one system for registration and tags that has owners name, address, etc. You have another database for drivers licenses that has owners name and address, etc. Someone needs to take the next logical step.

Another thought is to outsource it. Do you change physical tags every renewal or is there a sticker that is attached? If there is a simple tag/sticker based renewal then outsource it to commonly attended public places like grocery stores. The only times I've set foot in a County Tax office is when I needed to get a new license plate. Everything else can be done through the mail, online, or via a grocery store. And in Texas you have to provide proof of insurance for all transaction involving your car. That is easily done in the online scenario as the information for your car (year/make/model/VIN#/etc) and your insurance (year/make/model/VIN#/etc) are the same, and shockingly the two databases interact.

 

[GreatMarch]

I am sure they are held on two separate databases and the question would be why has someone not linked the two? You have one system for registration and tags that has owners name, address, etc. You have another database for drivers licenses that has owners name and address, etc. Someone needs to take the next logical step.

Another thought is to outsource it. Do you change physical tags every renewal or is there a sticker that is attached? If there is a simple tag/sticker based renewal then outsource it to commonly attended public places like grocery stores. The only times I've set foot in a County Tax office is when I needed to get a new license plate. Everything else can be done through the mail, online, or via a grocery store. And in Texas you have to provide proof of insurance for all transaction involving your car. That is easily done in the online scenario as the information for your car (year/make/model/VIN#/etc) and your insurance (year/make/model/VIN#/etc) are the same, and shockingly the two databases interact.

If you go to Montgomery to Monroe St, you will see why the 2 databases have not been linked. If you meet the departments involved your reaction would be, "in over their heads." If outsourcing occured, a lot of office space in Montgomery would go empty. I am talking 2 14 floor buildings of office space.

 

[lazlohollyfeld]

If you go to Montgomery to Monroe St, you will see why the 2 databases have not been linked. If you meet the departments involved your reaction would be, "in over their heads." If outsourcing occured, a lot of office space in Montgomery would go empty. I am talking 2 14 floor buildings of office space.

I do not doubt that. I once had a conversation with the IT Director of the North Texas Tollway Authority about their internal systems and it was like taking an iPod and an HD TV to a tribe in the middle of the Amazon. Sheer and utter amazement about the magical spirits in the tiny boxes.