Astounding Number of Immigrants Hurry To Get CA Licenses
Effective January 2, 2015, California started issuing drivers licenses to residents that are not US citizens. As predicted, lines started forming at DMV’s early Friday morning. California has an estimated 2.4 million undocumented residents that are not yet US citizens.
The implementation of Assembly Bill 60 has both insurance companies and state legislators applauding because it means more drivers on the road will have been tested on the driving laws. Many believe this simple change will make the roads much safer.
Want to get your license? Here’s what all RESIDENTS must do.
Step 1 – Show proof of residency.
Utility bills, rent or mortgage bill. For a complete list of acceptable documents, click here.
Step 2 – Show identification.
AB60 now means showing a passport or identification card from any country, not just the US, is acceptable. For a complete list of acceptable documents, click here.
NOTE: California will offer a secondary review process for individuals that are unable to provide proof of identity, as reported by Janie Costa of “TurlockCityNews.com”
Steps to follow for the SECONDARY review process (offered to individuals unable to provide proof of identity) can be found by scrolling to the bottom of this page
Step 3 – Pass the vision, knowledge and driving test.
There are a number of sites which can help prepare applicants for the knowledge test, also commonly referred to as the “written test”. DMV Cheatsheets offers study material in both English and Spanish.
Step 4 – Pay the $33 fee.
Licenses issued to noncitizens will bear a line on the front and back stating “Federal Limits Apply.” As referenced in this article by News10, this means the license “cannot be used to board a plane or to enter federal buildings”.
Mark Berman from The Washington Post reported “Gov. Jerry Brown (D) praised it as a way to show that these Californians did not have to hide.” “No longer are undocumented people in the shadows,” he said. “They are alive and well and respected in the state of California.” Click here for the complete Washington Post article.
AB 60 also prevents licenses issued to noncitizens from being used to investigate or prosecute regarding immigration status.
Currently, there are 14 states that distribute driver’s licenses to residents, regardless of citizenship status. Click here to view a map of these states from the National Immigration Law Center.
These 14 states are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Washington D.C.
