MONTGOMERY, Ala., Dec. 9 (UPI) -- The Department of Transportation is investigating whether discrimination against African-Americans was the reason Alabama closed multiple drivers license offices and reduced services.
Alabama announced the closure and reduction of services in 34 drivers licensing offices throughout the state on Sept. 30. The Transportation Department is looking to see if Alabama's government and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bans discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin in programs and activities that receive federal assistance.
"Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation is making it clear that Title VI is not optional and that we will work to make sure all of its components are enforced," U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement released Tuesday. "Driver license offices offer essential services to the American people, including providing thousands in Alabama with a method of identification. It is critical that these services be free of discrimination, and serve the people of the state fairly and equally."
An initial inquiry by the Transportation Department found evidence that "suggests" the actions taken by authorities in Alabama "may discriminate against Alabama's African-American residents."
The Transportation Department has the power to suspend or terminate federal funds as to enforce the nondiscrimination provisions in Title VI, which extend to all programs that receive federal financial assistance.
"It is our obligation to ensure that recipients of federal funding are in compliance with federal laws that guarantee equal access and opportunity for all," Departmental Civil Rights Acting Director Stephanie Jones said in the statement. "Our concern rests in the possibility that the state's closure of driver license offices disproportionately constrains the ability of some residents to secure driving privileges, register personal and commercial vehicles, and obtain proper identification -- a critical requirement for access to essential activities such as opening a bank account and voting."
The Department of Transportation did not specify in what way Alabama may have discriminated against African-Americans.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the offices were closed to make up for an $11 million budget cut, adding that it expected people to fulfill services required online.
