What Color is the Stripe in YOUR Wallet?

You may have heard that North Carolina has dropped plans to include a pink stripe on driver's licenses issued to illegal immigrants who have temporary status under the federal  'Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals' program.

If you're unfamiliar, DACA allows kids who were brought to America illegally to stay for a limited period of time without the risk of being deported.  The program allows Homeland Security efforts to be placed on removing more dangerous illegal immigrants.  There are a number of eligibility requirements, including age, arrival date, length of continuous residency, education requirements (in school, GED or diploma), prior honorable military service, and a generally clean criminal record with no felony convictions and three or fewer misdemeanors.   If the immigrant's application is accepted, 'legal presence' is granted, but not 'lawful status', that being reserved for citizens and legal immigrants.

North Carolina, which has other stripey driver's licenses, wanted to put a pink stripe on the licenses granted to DACA applicants, because that would be consistent with federal work permits, but mostly because it would make the roads of the Tar Heel State safer. Honest. Here's what Transportation Secretary Tony Tata had to say:

This program is about accountability and safety, making our roads safer for all North Carolinians.We have strong support from the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association. Those approved through the DACA process will take driver exams and road tests, as well as provide proof of auto insurance prior to receiving a license.

However, pressure from lawyers, immigrant groups, and civil rights groups was quick and powerful, particularly the voice of NC Jewish groups. Durham Rabbi John Friedman noted

I don't think these licenses have anything to do with the Holocaust and I'm not saying anyone is a Nazi. But it cannot help remind Jews of the yellow star.

Those sentiments were echoed by Raleigh's Rabbi Eric Solomon, who stated

Our efforts do not end when major discrimination turns into minor discrimination. It ends when we are 100 percent positive that discriminatory policies will not go into effect in our state.

In the end, NCDMV went with a standardized format that meets the letter of their law, which states that temporary licenses need to be clearly marked. And I'm fine with that.

But in the interest of transparency, and on the whole safety issue, wouldn't it be helpful to have lots of colored license stripes? For example a different color for, say,

• people convicted of DWI/DUI/DWAI (or people who cop a plea to a lesser charge)?
• people convicted of 'distracted driving', such as texting, emailing, messing around with their on-board computer, putting on mascara, or yelling at their kids in the back seat?
• people convicted of a drug offense?
• people who are carrying a concealed handgun?
• sex offenders?
• people who have had car accidents?
• other random felons?
• people who don't have a high school education?
• people who served but were dishonorably discharged from the military?

Wouldn't folks with those stripes potentially be more dangerous for the police who stop them, or potentially make the rest of the people on the road in North Carolina less safe than someone who actually goes through the process of obtaining DACA status?