For Immediate Release 09/21/2019 Contact: Shaun Marie 518-356-7882 www.cpnys.org Twitter @cpnys Facebook.com/cpnys/
CONSERVATIVE PARTY WILL FILE AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF
IN OPPOSITION TO NEW YORK’S GREEN LIGHT LAW
Brooklyn, NY – The Conservative Party will file in the United States District Court Western District of New York, an Amicus Curiae brief in support of Erie County Clerk Michael P. Kearns’ motion for a preliminary injunction against the implementation of New York’s Green Light Law.
The Conservative Party of New York State, established in 1962, has always been bound by the rule of law that protects citizens. On June 12, 2019, a majority of the members of the New York State Assembly passed the Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act, aka the Green Light Law. Five days later, on June 17, a majority of the NYS Senate passed the Bill and Governor Andrew Cuomo signed it on the 17th of June, with an effective date 180 days after it becomes law.
Prior to the law being passed, Section 502 of the NY Vehicle and Traffic Law required an applicant for a driver’s license to provide their Social Security number, except for certain exceptions applicable to legal residents who were not eligible for a Social Security number. Section 502 was amended to allow an applicant for a driver’s license to no longer provide a Social Security number; rather an applicant only has to sign an affidavit that they have not been issued a Social Security number when applying for said license and the applicant shall not be required to prove that they are lawfully present in the United States.
Issuing driver’s licenses to individuals here illegally will allow said individuals to evade detection by federal law enforcement and due to the check off on the driver’s license application, may even allow individuals here illegally the right to vote.
It is the belief of the Conservative Party that the Green Light Law was written specifically to withhold information from federal law enforcement officials creating a security risk to the citizens of New York. Duties of the DMV are primarily administered by elected county clerks, who will be required to follow the new law — and ignore federal law — or be removed by Governor Cuomo as allowed by the State Constitution. The Conservative Party of New York State believes the only way this conflict will be resolved is via the previously filed lawsuit which this Amicus Curiae brief supports.
“With this Amicus brief the Conservative Party continues its efforts to get this poorly thought through state law that will lead to voter fraud and public safety concerns reversed. We applaud Erie County Clerk Michael P. Kearns and all the county clerks who are standing firm against its implementation,” Chairman Kassar concluded.
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