Car dealers' bust prompts bill: Lawmaker would deny plates to illegal immigrants...

Car dealers' bust prompts bill


Lawmaker would deny plates to illegal immigrants


By Janice Morse
The News Enquirer (Cincinnati), March 15, 2008

Hamilton, OH -- After three Butler County car dealerships were accused of selling fake IDs to help illegal immigrants buy cars, a state lawmaker is planning legislation that would add another step to block them from getting temporary license tags or registrations.

'I can't stop you from buying a car. I think that would be unconstitutional. You have a right to buy anything you want, as long as you have the money. But what I can do is stop you from obtaining a tag or license to put on that car,' said state Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Fairfield.

Combs said Friday that his office has asked the Ohio Legislative Services Commission to research and draft a proposal that would require vehicle purchasers to prove U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status before obtaining a temporary tag or license plate for their vehicles. Combs said he hopes to introduce the measure in April.

Julie Ehrhart, a spokeswoman for the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, said state laws already require key identification documents - such as a state ID card or driver's license - to secure car titles, which are needed to register vehicles. But she also said that car dealers may not always require those types of identification when they hand out temporary license tags and/or sell vehicles.

Butler County Sheriff Rick Jones, whose office busted three Hamilton used-car dealerships Thursday, said Combs' idea seems to be a good one.

Meanwhile, eight suspects charged in alleged fake-documents operations at the three Hamilton used-car dealers appeared Friday in Butler County Common Pleas Court.

Dan Ferguson, an assistant prosecutor handling the case, said a ninth indicted person, Maria Martinez, 41, is recovering in Hamilton County after undergoing surgery and has said she intends to turn herself in to face the charges.

Six of the defendants charged with records-tampering were released on their promise to appear for future court dates, including the three brothers who own the targeted dealerships: Rajvinder Singh, 35, of Liberty Township; and Sukvinder Singh, 37, and Sinderpal Singh, 34, both of Deerfield Township.

Judge Michael J. Sage set bond at $25,000 each for two other defendants, James Dozier, 24, of Middletown, and Jesus Vasquez, 27, of Hamilton.


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