Can you imagine not being able to legally drive from one state to another if you needed to? Most of us wouldn’t even think twice about it as we’re so close to Vermont, Massachusetts and Maine, easily driving in and out of those states, along with other states not as close but within driving distance.
Now imagine being an undocumented individual with a valid driver’s license from, say, Vermont, who drove into New Hampshire. You and I wouldn’t even think an arrest or possible deportation would be the result of such an action. Yet, here we go again with the NH legislature targeting undocumented immigrants for something as harmless as an out-of-state driver’s license!
On Tues. Jan. 23, a hearing was held on a bill that was first introduced the previous week whose sole goal is to invalidate out-of-state driver's licenses issued to undocumented immigrants. Just to be clear, beginning with Washington state in 1993, 18 states and DC have since allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. Each of these states have similar stipulations that go along with the driver’s license. For example:
New Jersey law creates two types of licenses, the federally accepted REAL ID and a Standard Basic license, available to any New Jersey resident regardless of immigration status. The law also prohibits discrimination against people with Standard Basic licenses.
Utah law issues a “driving privilege” card to undocumented immigrants who can prove Utah residency. The card is different from a regular driver’s license by format, color, or other visual means and is clearly marked with “FOR DRIVING PRIVILEGES ONLY–NOT VALID FOR IDENTIFICATION.” The card may not be used for government identification and is valid for one year.
Maryland law permits people without social security numbers to obtain a driver’s license if they have filed a Maryland tax return or were claimed as a dependent of someone who filed a Maryland tax return for the previous two years. The driver’s license must have a design or color to distinguish it from other driver’s licenses and identification cards, may not be used for federal identification purposes, and may not be used to purchase a firearm.
There are also several city governments, such as San Francisco, CA, New Haven, CT, and Asbury Park, NJ, who will issue photo identification cards to undocumented residents. These ID cards are not to be used as driver’s licenses.
Here in New Hampshire, eight Republican state senators and two Republican state representatives recently introduced SB358. This bill will give the state the right to invalidate these out-of-state licenses. Should the bill pass, if a law enforcement officer stops a driver with an “invalid” license, the officer could charge the driver with a Class B misdemeanor of “driving without a license.”
Seriously??!
People who receive these licenses from other states, including those who are undocumented, must pass road test exams, have driver identification, and often maintain car insurance. Not to different from NH requirements for drivers.
This proposed bill is just another way of targeting undocumented people. Have something to say about this? Tell your state senator to defeat it. They need to hear from us.