|
Posted by
Orange Blossom Special
on Sun Apr 6 10:41:38 2008
edf40wrjww2msgDetailOT:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d Tulsa
The federal government is investigating whether the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety violated the civil rights of Iranian [] by refusing to provide them with driver's license tests in their native Farsi language.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched the investigation in March after a complaint filed on behalf of two Iranian nationals living in Bartlesville accused the state agency of unlawful discrimination based on their national origin, according to a letter from the NHTSA to Public Safety Commissioner Kevin Ward.
Public safety officials said Tuesday that offering state driver's license tests in Farsi could force the state to offer tests and other state documents in a host of other languages, creating new costs and administrative burdens. The written portion of Oklahoma's test is currently provided only in English and Spanish.
"The enormity of the situation is overwhelming," said Oklahoma Highway Patrol Capt. Chris West. Driver's license tests in multiple languages would create huge composition and printing costs and translators would have to be hired to grade the tests in each language, West said.
"It could be a huge financial burden. And very labor intensive,"
West said.
.......................
Finally, the couple went to the neighboring state of Kansas, located less than 25 miles north of Bartlesville, where they each passed a Kansas exam that tested their driving skills using graphic symbols rather than language, Hassan Sharifi said.
"There was no translation needed," he said. Once they returned to Oklahoma, they exchanged their Kansas driver's licenses to Oklahoma licenses and are now both legally licensed to drive in the state, he said.
............
Poe said the complaint could be dismissed after the agency responds or the government could order state officials to take corrective action to comply with federal civil rights requirements.
If the state does not comply, it could be penalized by the withholding of federal transportation money.
I know it's the AP and all, so I don't expect much, if anything. But how can they be foreign nationals and immigrants at the exact same time in the article. And you can just walk into Kansas and get a license? I didn't realize I could pick what state to be licensed in.
Driving is a privilege.
|
