California Driver’s License Law Accessed by Over 800,000 Undocumented Immigrants
In recent years, a number of states have enacted laws making undocumented immigrants eligible for driver’s licenses. The San Jose Mercury News reports that “Two years after the implementation of [California’s] AB 60 on Jan. 1, 2015, an estimated 806,000 undocumented residents have received driver’s licenses, according to Department of Motor Vehicles statistics this month. About 14,000 of these licenses were issued in November alone, the DMV said.” To qualify for a driver’s license under AB 60, applicants must prove their identity and residency in California; pass the written exam and a driving test; submit thumbprints and show proof of insurance, among other requirements. AB 60 licenses are marked with the words, “federal limits apply.” They have language on them indicating that the card is for driving purposes only and may not be used for identification.
KJ