This morning, Assemblyman Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square), Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY) and Republican members of the state Senate and Assembly were briefed by officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) about the dangerous hurdles the state’s Driver’s License Access & Privacy Act, or “Green Light Law,” has placed in front of law enforcement officials.
The law prevents U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents from accessing any information from the state’s DMV database.
“The briefing was eye-opening,” said Ra. “A DMV check is the first action trained law enforcement officials take in any investigation. Preventing federal officers from accessing this information compromises public safety and puts them in an extremely dangerous position.”
Ra said that preventing law enforcement from accessing vehicle registration records, warrants, liens and basic driver’s license information essentially has them flying blind during traffic stops, border crossings and at active crime scenes.
“Imagine that you’re a federal law enforcement official investigating a human trafficking ring. Imagine that you can’t run the license plate on a car parked outside a suspect’s house. It’s senseless,” said Ra.
Ra said that sharing information between federal and state entities is critically important for public safety. Last year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement made thousands of arrests, including hundreds for homicides, sex offenses and weapons charges.
“The governor’s actions are completely misguided. Federal law enforcement officials are targeting dangerous criminals who are doing real harm to real victims in our communities. They need to access this information. It’s bigger than politics when people’s lives are at risk,” said Ra.
“Any law that prevents law enforcement officials from doing the basic functions of their job needs to be repealed. It’s that simple.”
