Drivers Licenses

Americans born after Dec. 1, 1964, will have to get more secure driver's licenses in the next six years under ambitious post-9/11 security rules to be unveiled today by federal officials. The Homeland Security Department has spent years crafting regulations for the Real ID Act, a law designed to make it harder for terrorists, illegal immigrants and con artists to get government-issued identification.

The pitch: "Order a valid International Driver's License that can never be suspended or revoked!" The scam: There's a legitimate International Driver's Permit that allows U.S. motorists to drive in more than 100 foreign countries. In fact, it's even required of a U.S. driver going more than 300 miles into Mexico or more than 50 miles into Canada. But spam e-mail offers for an international license are fraudulent.

Is Britney Spears a Californian or a Louisianan? Jurors confronted with that question at the pop star's trial for driving without a license spent about two hours deliberating Friday. The panelists are expected to return Monday to resume their discussions. If convicted of a misdemeanor, Spears, 26, faces a maximum sentence of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The charge stems from an accident last year in which the performer struck a parked car.

Jurors at Britney Spears' driving-without-a-license trial said Monday that they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, but a judge ordered them to continue deliberating. "I'm going to ask you to make another attempt to resolve whatever differences you have," said Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge James Steele. Jurors, who began deliberations Friday, resumed their discussions but twice sent notes to the judge saying they were deadlocked.

State lawmakers are considering a proposal that would require drivers to prove proficiency in English before receiving a license. GOP Rep. Dennis Himmelberger said his proposal would require examiners to determine if an applicant needs a proficiency test. Examiners would also determine applicants' citizenship and note their home country on the license. A House committee took no immediate action on the measure.

Under siege from states and angry lawmakers, the White House on Thursday moved back a deadline to implement national driver's license standards that critics say would seriously undermine personal privacy and burden states with a hefty bill. The announcement that states could have an extra 20 months, until the end of 2009, to meet the requirements of the Real ID Act did little to ease criticism of the law from conservative activists, privacy advocates, motor vehicle departments and lawmakers.

Illinois would become one of only a handful of states that authorize illegal immigrants to drive under legislation the House passed Wednesday to create a special driver's permit for undocumented residents. Immigrant advocates called the 60-54 vote an important victory. "Today we make history," said Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago), the measure's sponsor. "Immigrants can drive to church, to work, and take their children to school legally and without fear."

Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo acknowledged Friday that his wife got a traffic ticket while driving with a suspended license in 2005, which resulted in her paying a $186 fine. The disclosure came on the same day that Delgadillo insisted on more jail time for heiress Paris Hilton. Delgadillo said through a spokesman that his wife regrets the violation, but that her situation is not comparable to the Hilton case.

Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo's wife has an outstanding warrant for her arrest for failing to appear in court nearly nine years ago on charges of driving without insurance, with a suspended license and in an unregistered car, court records and officials confirmed Tuesday. In addition, documents obtained by The Times show that in the last three years the Delgadillos were chronically late in paying fines for at least five parking tickets.

The Los Angeles Police Department has imposed a moratorium on impounding the vehicles of unlicensed drivers amid concerns that the practice may be unconstitutional, officials said Tuesday. The decision touches on what has long been a hot-button issue, because many unlicensed drivers who have their cars towed are illegal immigrants who cannot get driver's licenses.