California Starts Issuing Driver’s Licenses Regardless of Legal Status

The Washington Post ran an interesting article today titled: “California begins issuing driver’s licenses regardless of immigration status“.

California has changed this law. The change in the law makes California one of only 10 states, and the District of Columbia to give out licenses this way.  California officials believe that more than one million residents could get drivers licenses in the coming years.  The move is praised by police officers and insurance companies as a way to make California’s road’s safer.

Under prior law, in order to obtain a driver’s license, a driver would need to prove that they were a legal resident.  Now they just have to prove that they reside in the state of California.  This can be done by presenting all sorts of evidence from rental agreements, utility bills etc.  They must also prove their identity.  Finally, they need to pass the driver’s test and pay the license fee.

According to the article: “When he signed the law last year, 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.”” “Brown’s office also noted that the law explicitly prohibits these licenses being used for any sort of investigation or arrest based on immigration status.”

The law looks like it will benefit the police, insurance companies, the general public and perhaps most of all: undocumented aliens.

 

The Law Office of Lawrence Gruner is located in downtown Sacramento.  Lawrence Gruner is an immigration attorney, fiancé visa attorney, and green card attorney, with over 20 years of experience handling immigration cases. We are happy to talk to you, free of charge, about your immigration questions.  We may be reached at 916-760-7270.  We handle cases in California, throughout the United States and throughout the World.