Pennsylvania Driver’s License Bill for Undocumented Immigrants Proposed : Immigration Law Blog

Pennsylvania Democrats have proposed Home Invoice 279, which might amend state regulation to grant a driver’s license with out a Social Safety quantity, enabling undocumented immigrants to obtain a learner’s allow or a driver’s license, through the use of simply their taxpayer identification quantity and a few further paperwork. The Invoice was launched by Democratic Representatives Danilo Burgos and Christopher M. Rabb, Joseph C. Hohenstein, Sara Innamorato, and Republican Representatives Christopher B. Quinn and Jonathan D. Hershey.

The present Invoice has been launched by the proponents of an identical Invoice, Home Invoice 2835, which was launched within the Pennsylvania Home of Representatives final September.

Who in Pennsylvania Is Eligible to Acquire a Driver’s License?

Usually, it isn’t doable for an undocumented immigrant to acquire a Social Safety quantity, which is the first deterrent to their acquiring a driver’s license. Beneath the brand new Invoice, any non-citizen who has a taxpayer identification quantity issued by the Inside Income Service shall be eligible to use for a learner’s allow or a driver’s license. Along with offering their taxpayer identification quantity, the non-citizen must present further paperwork to indicate the date of beginning. Paperwork similar to a passport, a beginning certificates, any government-issued identification, or any mixture of paperwork that reliably proves the applicant’s identify and date of beginning are acceptable.

Like each different applicant for a Pennsylvania driver’s license, the non-citizen must go a “highway take a look at” to show their means to securely function a motorcar.

Reactions to the Invoice

Offering driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants will make the roads safer, as drivers could have handed a highway take a look at, and a larger variety of drivers shall be insured. Additionally, it’s anticipated that people with licenses will really feel extra comfy reporting accidents and cooperating with regulation enforcement.

“In immediately’s quick paced world, a driver’s license is crucial to earn a residing, journey safely, and stay a dignified existence,” the invoice’s sponsors wrote in a memo on their proposal. “Sadly, numerous undocumented individuals are unable to use for a driver’s license in Pennsylvania as a result of they don’t have the Social Safety quantity…Because of this, they contribute to our financial system the ultimate protections and primary rights that the remainder of us get pleasure from, similar to the flexibility to drive safely to work, college, and companies.”

“From an financial perspective, the income generated from utility prices to [the Department of Transportation] and purchases on automobile insurance coverage insurance policies would drastically profit Pennsylvania’s financial system – a much-needed aid as our financial system struggles to achieve stability throughout this disaster,” sponsor Rep. Danilo Burgos mentioned of comparable laws he launched ultimately yr’s session.

Inexperienced Mild Legislation

Sixteen states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have handed the regulation granting driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants, additionally known as the “Inexperienced gentle regulation.”

To study extra about this weblog publish or in case you have every other immigration issues, please be happy to contact me at rglahoud@norris-law.com or (484) 544-0022.