NASHVILLE -- The state's top economic recruitment official said Thursday that legislation requiring the written portion of state driver's license exams be conducted only in English "contradicts the message ... that Tennessee is a good place for foreign companies to invest."
"If we make Tennessee a less-inviting place for foreign companies to invest and hire and make it more difficult for their (home country workers) to come and be part of their operations, we won't see those kind of opportunities come," Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matt Kisber warned.
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But Rep. Eric Watson, R-Cleveland, sponsor of House Bill 262, said the issue really is one of road safety.
"The bottom line is if you have to take a test in a foreign language, that means there's an issue," said Rep. Watson, a lieutenant in the Bradley County Sheriff's Department. "You can't read English."
German auto manufacturer Volkswagen, which is building a $1 billion auto assembly plant in Chattanooga, has raised concerns about the bill, as has the consulate-general of Japan in Nashville, which in 2008 moved its offices from New Orleans to Tennessee because of extensive Japanese investment in the state.
Tennessee offers written portions of its driver's license exam in Spanish, Japanese and Korean. The Department of Safety also has a pilot project at its Red Bank service center in which the written portion of the test is offered in German, department spokesman Mike Browning said.
The driving portion of the test is conducted only in English, and drivers must recognize road signs.
But Rep. Watson argued that there are many more signs in use today than traditional stop, yield and curve signs. Millions of dollars have been spent on electronic signs on interstates, he noted, while others warn of road crews.
The issue came to a head Tuesday when the House Public Safety Subcommittee passed Rep. Watson's bill on a 4-1-1 vote.
Before the vote, Volkswagen Group of America lobbyist Mark Smith sought to rebut previous testimony from lobbyist Eddie V. Garcia with ProEnglish, a group that backs language restrictions, which Mr. Smith said indicated Volkswagen supported the Watson bill.
DRIVER LICENSE EXAMS
Tennessee: Offers written exams in Spanish, Japanese and Korean. Written exams in German are offered at the state driver services center in Red Bank. The driving portion of the exam is conducted in English. Drivers must understand highway traffic and directional signs.
Georgia: Exams available in Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Bosnian, Japanese, Korean, Laos, Polish and Russian. The Road Sign Test, however, is available only in English. All drivers must have the ability to read and understand the simple English used in highway traffic and directional signs.
Alabama: Driver's license written examinations are available in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese.
"We don't quibble that making sure that matters like signs, which are currently tested, are sufficiently covered in the exam," Mr. Smith said. "What we would submit to you is that a one-size-fits-all, English-only, no-exception legislation is perhaps not the gesture of Southern hospitality that we
think that companies looking to Tennessee are looking for."
That drew the wrath of Rep. Tony Shipley, R-Kingsport, who snapped, "That speaks closely to blackmail."
Mr. Smith said that was not his intent. House Public Safety Subcommittee Chairman Vince Dean, R-East Ridge, later said he disagreed with Rep. Shipley.
But Mr. Garcia, in an e-mail Thursday, said that "foreign executives are concerned and interested in tax credits, tax savings and economic development incentives. These companies bring over far fewer executives than the Americans they claim, purport and promise to hire."
Volkswagen spokeswoman Jill Bratina said in an e-mail Thursday that "Volkswagen values diversity and inclusion. We do not oppose this bill because we need the tests in German but because it is contradictory to the principles we hold important."
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Andy Sher is a Nashville-based staff writer covering Tennessee state government and politics for the Times Free Press. A Washington correspondent from 1999-2005 for the Times Free Press, Andy previously headed up state Capitol coverage for The Chattanooga Times, worked as a state Capitol reporter for The Nashville Banner and was a contributor to The Tennessee Journal, among other publications. Andy worked for 17 years at The Chattanooga Times covering police, health care, county government, ...
I believe that it should be English only because if you go to another country they are not going to make it easy on you to take their tests or read their signs. You are going to have to learn their language, so in my opinion anyone who comes to the U.S.A. should have to learn English and no if's, and's, or but's.
What is our definition of "learning English"?
Just curious because I see spelling and grammar mistakes EVERYDAY in comments on this website.
In addition, speaking English does not necessarily make you a better driver. I witness poor driving skills EVERYDAY in Chattanooga. English speakers with driver's licenses ignore traffic signs and laws all the time!
The issue is trivial and I still think it's about race and intolerance.
I guess my previous post was deleted or not published.
To VW:
Would you please explain to the American people which principles you hold important are contradictory?
Eddie Garcia
ctfpfan08:
My suggestion to you is to become a police officer so you can get out there and enforce our laws on the roads. This bill will ensure that all who drive AT LEAST understand and can read the written signs.
Let me ask you: What is your solution to those (applicable to everyone) who drives impaired, without insurance, who speed, without a valid license?
Not being trivial, just curious.
Eddie
Eddie,
The police have to work harder because of the ignorant laws our lawmakers have passed to prohibit immigrants from getting a license. Do you not realize that these laws encourage illegal driving???????????
To whatmatters:
I guess it's the same 'ol people making excuses to ignore the facts. Illegal driving exists in a variety of realms.
Please share your thoughts with police officers. I'd be elated to hear the results. Many of the police officers with whom I've spoken, tell me that to allow motorists who cannot read, speak or understand English create a dire problem for them and for motorists.
Eddie
ctfpfan08,
I agree with you. It is about race and intolerance.
Eddie,
To not allow them to learn the laws in their native language causes a greater problem for us all.
Eddie,
Communication is the key to understanding. Why does it matter that the message be in "English Only" The ultimate goal is for people who are driving to understand the laws, no matter what language they speak or understand.
No, whatmatters, the ultimate goal is for people who work, live, drive, etc., learn to speak the language of their chosen country.
Rolando, I appreciate the support.
whatmatters, You so precisely support my case. COMMUNICATION is the key!
If that motorist cannot read or understand English, then their lack, (intentional or not) causes issues on the road for other motorists or emergency personnel (i.e.) police who are trying to do their jobs to assist.
A police officer giving a lawful command to a motorist who cannot entender the command poses a great peligro not only to themselves but to the officer.
Have an enjoyable fin de semana!
Eddie Garcia
Do you need a dictionary now? How is the communication between us now?
again to whatmatters:
Allow me to ask and I hope you have the integrity to reply. Are you an immigrant? Are you born from immigrants?
Well I am! So when you imply or freely use "race" or "intolerance", I believe you should back up your rhetoric.
I am of Italian and Hispanic decent. Speaking both languages quite well. So your "empty" claim of race and intolerance is not a stranger to me who grew up in a predominant Anglo neighborhood, who attended a predominant Anglo public school.
So please, take your unsupported fascist claims where it is more palatable.
Eddie Garcia
By the grace of God, I am privileged to hold citizenship status four countries. Although I miss Italy, Cuba and Chile, I cherish my US citizenship.
Because it is in the United States of America where I know I can freely say what I feel with no retribution or fear from government troops.
My multiple citizenship status is attributed to by automatic operation of the different laws associated with those countries and through paternal and maternal countries of birth.
As a former US Army reservist, my allegiance continues to the United States of America, first and foremost.
Hence, the reason why I support HB 262 and HB 2685 in Tennessee. As an experienced immigrant and having endured difficult times as a child, it is imperative and KEY for an immigrant to learn English.
No matter how you slice the onion, you will still tear up knowing what I know as an immigrant child.
So please, save your "pity" speeches and stand up for our country and insist or demand that all immigrants learn English to assimilate.
Thank you,
Eddie Garcia
So to those of you who want to call me or imply that I am a racist, this is what I have to say.
If standing up for my country the United States of America labels me a racist, then so be it. If by calling me a racist to justify your perception or belief is what you need to do, I feel for you.
My country is worth protecting!
I know that I have over 6-15 dozen million (if not more) US citizens who will stand beside me for our country.
Some say T-O-M-A-T-O and some say T-O-M-A-T-O-E!
The question I have for those of you who cast judgement on me, where is your allegiance?
Eddie Garcia
What an honor to have received this email from a US soldier. mailed-by hotmail.com hide details
Eddie, We don't know each other but my mom back in Ohio sent me the link to your Blog. Keeping track of it whenever I can, I am writing you to say I thank you for sticking up for our country! I admire your persistency in preserving our American language, culture and values.
I am an enlisted soldier in the United States Army and stationed here in Iraq. I have been here twice and this is my 8th month of my 2nd deployment. As my fellow soldiers dress up not knowing if today will be our last day on Earth, we are proud to be Americans. We are proud to stand up for our country and do what is right.
To us, it's not a question of why we are here or when are we going home, but how can we do our job on behalf of the United States better? These people and even some back home call us names, but we are proud to be here and to be American. As we encounter many Iraqi's, some love us and many hate us.
Ironic, that as much as they hate us they always try to use English words to ridicule us. As upset as we get to hear them scream English words at us, we laugh at how much they want to be Americans---deep down inside. Keep up the good work back home and I promise to keep up the good work here. By the way, I also enjoy listening to your music.
Yours truly, T. Swanson, PFCUnited States Army
To prove a point, here's one for ya!
Yo quiero este pais como si fuera mu pais de nacimiento. Cuando mis padres y yo lluegamos, nosotros supimos que teniamos que aprender Ingles sin duda.
Gracias a Dios y a mis padres que durante todo los llantos y desafios, tuvimos la tenacidad para adelantar y sobrevivir!
Make English the language for the TN driver's license exam for safety and YES, to give immigrants the necessary nudge for them to achieve a level of success.
Eddie Garcia
So, since certain groups have labeled ANYONE who is American & supports meaningful immigration reform (as I do), does that make us racists, bigots or members of a hate group?
From the US Border Patrol website, "The roughly 6,400 Hispanic agents on duty in 2006 increased 45 percent to about 9,300 last month."
Does that make those Hispanic agents members of a hate group?
Come on people!
This is our country & we have the right to defend it & ensure & insist our borders are secure!!!!!!!
Some groups will stop at NOTHING to deflect the truth!
Their treacherous attempts to smear those who support American values are despicable!!!
Eddie Garcia
I'd love to see the liberals go to Mexico and try the same nonsense they advocate here. They will put you guys in jail and throw away the key...and sell your vehicle too. Liberals somehow think they will be better liked if they continually advocate people from every continent come here and force us to do things in every language. Its one thing to have a section in the grocery store for some imports in various languages, Ive seen that in other countries too, but having driving tests in multiple languages is just over the top. They need to learn to read if they want to drive here. We need to do that in other countries, so they should have the same courtesy here to learn the language.
Here is a prime example supporting the need for HB 262 to pass. It may seem too simple to some, but the point is critical.
We can bicker all we want about foreign companies, the "weak' argument that this bill is "unfriendly" but human life is to be valued and we cannot be lax in our responsibility as stewards of life. When we leave the door open for grave mistakes that cause injury or death because of the lack of understanding English, you become an accomplice.
This comment won't permit JPG's to be posted with HTML code. If you are interested in seeing the image I am talking about, please visit my FACEBOOK Fan page.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/ProEnglishUSA/240181559511?ref=mf
Issues that affect the citizenry take courage coupled with empathy. Representative Shipley believes in doing the right thing for his community's longevity and survival.
I found this notice on the Kingsport City's website. The sign may appear simple, but the reasons behind the sign are incredibly important for anyone who drives on this particular road. The safety message delivered by the sign is one thing considering the limited size and placement. But if you read the accompanying message, the overall safety for the protection of Kingsport residents and visitors cannot be compromised.
Please heed the warning message: Motorists must use extreme caution when navigating the detour.....Now common sense tells us that IF a motorist CANNOT read or comprehend this safety/warning message, the risks are TOO great when lives are at stake.
One thing is if an English speaking person ignores the safety message, they are ignorant, careless and display a wanton disregard for others.
The other thing is if the motorist cannot understand that message because they CANNOT read English.
So to me, as a father with a daughter who is about to begin her driving life, the cause and effect is compounded with the issues in my first sentence, but seriously raises major concerns with the issues in the second sentence.
I never want to see my daughter hurt from a car accident, but must be willing to let God have that.
An accident from a reckless driver, a drunk driver, a speeding driver can be met with criminal penalties.
How am I as a parent going to mete out punishment to someone who caused my baby to be hurt because they couldn't understand a road sign?
Can you please take the time and explain that to me?
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