Guzman responds to allegations

COLUMBUS — The outgoing director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety is denying a newspaper report that he “maliciously and purposely” postponed a change in how vehicles are registered, allowing large numbers of undocumented workers to obtain license plates.

Henry Guzman also said policy changes were in the works for more than a year and played no role in his recently announced decision to retire.

“This problem existed before I got here over several administrations,” Guzman told The Vindicator. “I’m the one that addressed the problem. Did it take a year? Yes. Now we have a policy in place which is stronger than the original, and it meets all legal requirements.”

Guzman’s comments came in response to a Columbus Dispatch report over the weekend that thousands of individuals were able to register cars and get license plates even though they did not have valid Social Security numbers or car insurance.

The newspaper said Guzman delayed a crackdown on a loophole allowing the practice for more than a year after hearing from mostly Latino-owned car dealers, financing and insurance companies and others.

Not true, Guzman told The Vindicator late Monday. In fact, he said he was the one who pushed for a change in how vehicles are registered in the state.

For the full story, read Wednesday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.