hey proudusc....another candidate for your version of 'honorable mistakes...' (maybe you should step up and pay for this clown's 'honorable mistake..' - but you won't)

21 year-old Avenamar Perez pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident, driving without a license or registration. While in court, Perez also admitted he is an illegal immigrant.

Insurance agents estimate two out of every three drivers in Memphis do not have car insurance. In order to get an insurance card, you've got to have a driver's license. For people who are here illegally, that is impossible.

"It seems common. People involved in hit and runs, one of the reasons they leave is alcohol, the other is insurance," says agent Mark Barnes.

So what can you do to protect yourself? You can get what's called an “uninsured motorists policy”. It costs on average about $100 a year, and will protect you and your passengers if someone hits you who does not have insurance. The policy will pay for medical costs if someone is hurt, and cover the cost to fix your car.

"It would also protect you in the event you were walking on the curb, someone hit you who wasn't insured, your coverage would pay that as well."

The policy is there to protect you, but depending on the insurance company, if you do have to make a claim, there is always a chance your rate could go up.

Avenamar Perez was sentenced to 30 days in Shelby County Jail and fined $1,000 dollars. It is up to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement whether to deport him after he serves his time. A spokesperson for I.C.E. told us today, typically when an illegal immigrant is sentenced to jail time for an offense, they are deported. [and good riddance]...
Does anyone truly believe that if illegals are given driver's licenses, they will run out and buy insurance? Why in the world would these scofflaws obey another one of our 'pesky' and 'unfair' laws when they started their 'career' in this country by ignoring the soveriegnty of our borders??

Question, if he would of not admitted to being an illegal immagrant could they still find out he is not legal and deport him?

how many laws have you NOT HONORED A LAW
"someone" im sure half of you trash talkers are
the ones speeding thru town to show off your big wheels...then crying when you crash into another innocent person..
I wonder what you law breakers deserve....

Yes, Someone12, I do believe that most of the unlicensed drivers (due to the lack of legal status) would buy the insurance. Not all, of course but it would be a nice start. Right now, they have the excuse: Can't get the insurance without driver's license. Licensing them would take away that excuse.

As it happened, my own father was hit by a drunk driver without license or insurance. The police told us it was the fourth DUI for him. Of course, my father didn't see a dime. Whether he was here legally, we don't know. The police wouldn't comment on that. However, I still think that everybody should be licensed, legal or not. There are meany reasons to go there: first, the licensing state would know the identity of all drivers, second, they'd be able to buy insurance. And, third - it doesn't make any difference, they are still driving and a driver's license alone isn't good anymore to prove your immigration status. So, why not do it?

it is difficult to believe that scofflaws (i.e. illegal aliens) who have already demonstrated that they have NO respect for our immigration laws, would suddenly, after being issued DLs, rush out to the nearest State Farm office and sign up for insurance....in fact, that is ludicrous....these irresponsible lawbreakers aren't going to care about having insurance...moreover, a lot of the 'big name' insurance companies would charge a first-timer, with no driving history, a small fortune in premiums....money that the typical illegal would send back home (remittances) so their relatives could swill more beer and smoke more cigarettes....sorry...the only DL 12M illegals should be given should have a great big red "I" on the front for 'illegal'-- that way, when they run afoul of our authorities at any level, they get 'das boot...'

Yes, certainly, I can see your point and I agree that a lot of illegal immigrants would not avail themselves to having a valid DL and insurance. I believe, though, that the majority would. As these are only assumptions both on your and my part, we cannot "prove" who is right. Nevertheless, such an experiment would be interesting and it would come out in black and white whether it's worth bothering with.