The passing of California Assembly Bill 60 also known as the Safe and Responsible Driver Act is not only a great advancement for public safety on the road but also a significant step towards immigrating reform.
CA AB 60, introduced by Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, will permit undocumented immigrants to obtain a drivers license. These licenses will be marked with DP, driver’s privilege, instead of DL, driver’s license.
At least nine other states have implemented similar bills allowing undocumented immigrants to drive legally.
The bill will make living and providing for their families easier for immigrants. They will no longer have to be scared to drive to work or do simple everyday tasks such as taking their children to school or grocery shopping for their family.
“A driver’s license will ensure that hardworking individuals are properly trained, have insurance and can drive to work without fear of getting pulled over and losing their vehicle and their livelihood,” said Senator Ricardo Lara, D-Long Beach in a press release from Alejo’s website.
The bill not only benefits immigrants but also the safety of all Californians. Like all California citizens, undocumented immigrants will also have to pass the required tests and must be insured, making the roads safer for everyone.
“Immigrants working and taking care of their families have been looking over their shoulders, driving in fear, for far too long,” Senator Kevin de Leon said. ”Finally, we will be able to safeguard our roads by requiring all drivers to be properly trained, licensed and insured.”
Immigrants make up a large portion of California’s workforce and with the ability to drive legally, they will be able to work their jobs and help local businesses profit.
“I have personally dealt with issues of my workers being pulled over and harassed because they did not have a driver’s license,” said Bill Stokes of Stokes Brothers Farms in Lodi. “This bill will give these workers the legal right to drive our roads and highways and prevent the harassment of many of our state’s hardest worker.”
“With AB 60 we are recognizing the needs of many hardworking immigrants living here and contributing so much to our great state,” Alejo said in a press release. “ Immigrants who drive legally are more likely to work, spend and contribute to the economy.”
The Safe and Responsible Driver Act is a huge step toward immigration reform and will only benefit the state in the long run.
“This bill will enable millions of people to get to work safely and legally. Hopefully, it will send as message to Washington that immigration reform is long past due,” Governor Jerry Brown said in a statement.
http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=18203
http://www.asmdc.org/members/a30/
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB60
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