Bill Brady to support temporary visitor driver's licenses for
undocumented immigrants
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[December 01, 2012]
SPRINGFIELD -- Sen. Bill Brady said
Wednesday he will support legislation to improve traffic safety and
lower insurance costs for Illinois motorists by permitting
undocumented immigrants to obtain temporary visitors' driver's
licenses, already allowed for many other foreign-born individuals.
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At Brady's urging, language is included in the bill to stipulate
that the temporary visitors' driver's licenses cannot be used for
purposes of identification, such as registering to vote, boarding an
airplane or purchasing a firearm. "I am pleased that the sponsors
of the legislation and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and
Refugee Rights addressed my concerns and agreed that the temporary
visitors' licenses should include notification in bold type that
they cannot be used for identification purposes," said Brady, an
assistant Senate Republican leader from Bloomington.
Brady said he decided to support and co-sponsor the legislation
because of valid economic arguments for licensing an estimated
250,000 undocumented immigrants in Illinois. Other states that have
implemented similar provisions, such as Utah, have seen dramatic
numbers of their undocumented immigrants become licensed and
purchase the required auto insurance.
"Without licenses, our law enforcement officers cannot check
their driving records, and without licenses, Illinois motorists are
footing the bill for their uninsured motor vehicle accidents," Brady
said.
"This isn't just an issue in the city of Chicago. It's also an
issue in the suburbs and downstate areas where the Latino population
is growing."
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The legislation will require the undocumented immigrants to
provide proof of their identity and Illinois residency, pass a
driver's test, and carry automobile insurance. The cost of the
temporary visitors' driver's licenses will be about $30, the same as
for regular driver's licenses.
"We are excited that the highway safety legislation continues to
receive bipartisan support from legislators who understand the need
to keep our roads and families safe," said Lawrence Benito, CEO of
the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
[Text from file received from
Brady for Senate]
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