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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 7, 2013 03:01 PM |
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| From: | Representative Angel Cruz |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Driver's Licenses for Certain Immigrants |
| In the near future, I will introduce legislation that would increase Pennsylvania road safety by requiring undocumented immigrants to obtain a Pennsylvania driver's license. This common sense legislation would ensure that all drivers study driving rules and pass a driving test before operating a motor vehicle in Pennsylvania. As a result, our roads would be safer by making sure that those operating vehicles in the state are subject to our traffic laws. This proposal would also cut down on insurance premiums and instances of uninsured vehicles since most companies require individuals to provide a state issued driver’s license number in order to obtain auto insurance. Undocumented immigrants work here and pay taxes here. If we continue to allow them to drive on our roads unlicensed, we are making Pennsylvania less safe for everyone. According to a report issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles Unlicensed in January 2013, unlicensed drivers are three times more likely to cause a fatal car crash compared to licensed drivers, and requiring drivers to pass a written test and driving test before they can obtain licenses plays a major role in reducing traffic fatalities. In order to obtain a license, applicants would have to show identification, which would include a foreign passport, an unexpired consular identification document or a consular report of birth abroad. Applicants would also be required to provide documentation verifying at least 90 days of residency in Pennsylvania. Licenses would be valid for driving only; they would not be used for identification for voting or other purposes. Licenses would be valid only within the State of Pennsylvania. Anyone convicted of a felony in Pennsylvania would be barred from obtaining such a license. This bill is first and foremost about public safety. It is about knowing who is driving on our roads, and doing everything we can to make sure that those drivers are safe and that they are operating registered and insured vehicles. I hope you will join me in co-sponsoring this legislation. Thank you in advance for your consideration. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my Harrisburg office at 717-705-1925. |
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| View Attachment | ||
Introduced as HB1520