Toolkit | Access to Driver’s Licenses

Toolkit | Access to Driver’s Licenses


FACT SHEETS, TALKING POINTS, POLICY ANALYSIS

TOOLKIT CONTENTS

Benefits of Expanding Access to Driver’s Licenses


CALIFORNIA
Facts & Policy Points: California’s “Safe and Responsible Drivers Act”

Describes how expanding access to driver’s licenses promotes public safety, results in insurance savings, and increases economic participation. (NILC)

CALIFORNIA
Why It Makes Law Enforcement Sense for All California Drivers to Be Eligible for Driver’s Licenses

Talking points on benefits of expanding access to driver’s licenses to all California drivers, from law enforcement perspective. (NILC)

COLORADO
The Benefits of Allowing All Immigrants Access to Driver’s Licenses (PDF)

In this January 2018 issue brief, the Colorado Fiscal Institute analyzes the benefits of ensuring that all immigrants have access to driver’s licenses and expresses concern about the barriers that remained following passage of the Colorado Road and Community Safety Act in 2013. In 2018, 160,000 new immigrants would have been eligible to obtain a license. The report estimates that if all immigrants could obtain a license, Colorado drivers would save $59 million in insurance premiums, insurance companies could receive increased revenue of $118 million annually, and state and local governments could receive increased revenue as drivers registered their vehicles. The report summarizes the benefits achieved in New Mexico and Utah in uninsurance rates and certain accident rates. A summary of the issue brief as well as a fact sheet (PDF) are also provided.

COLORADO
Increasing Access to Driver’s Licenses Is Good for Colorado’s Economy

This 2017 report describes the benefits of removing roadblocks to driver’s licenses for immigrants in Colorado. (Colorado Fiscal Institute)

COLORADO
The Impact of Allowing All Immigrants Access to Driver’s Licenses

This 2015 report measures the economic impact of opening access to driver’s licenses for all immigrant drivers in Colorado. Although under Colorado law undocumented drivers are eligible for licenses, many still cannot obtain them because of the lack of funding dedicated to the license issuance program. If all immigrant drivers were able to obtain licenses and buy car insurance, “Colorado drivers could see savings of $29.5 million in insurance premiums every year,” and “Insurance companies could see increased revenue of $113.1 million annually.” State and local governments would receive new revenue ranging from $5.3 million to $6.9 million, as these new drivers register their cars. Licensed drivers are more likely to work and spend, putting more money into Colorado’s economy. The report concludes that “the economic and social benefits of providing driver’s licenses to all immigrants far outweigh the administrative costs of the program.” (Colorado Fiscal Institute)

ILLINOIS
Driver’s Licenses for All: Economic and Safety Benefits

Discusses benefits, including insurance, state revenue, economic participation and public safety. (Highway Safety Coalition*)

MARYLAND
Immigrant Licensure: What Is Happening in Other States?

Reviews other state’s movement on the issue and benefits of expanded access to driver’s licenses in states with existing laws, including lower rates of uninsured motorists, accident rates, fatal crash rates, and overall savings to the state. (CASA de Maryland*)

MARYLAND
Talking Points on Uninsured Motorists

Provides talking points on the public safety benefits of having driver’s trained, tested and insured. (CASA de Maryland*)

MARYLAND
Limited-Use Licenses and Public Safety

Fact sheet on “trained and tested drivers = safer roads for everyone.” (CASA de Maryland*)

MASSACHUSETTS
Licenses for Immigrant Drivers in Massachusetts

Discusses how expanding access to driver’s licenses for immigrants regardless of immigration status would affect public safety and accountability, state revenues, and the well-being of working families. Reviews some issues involved in implementing such a policy. (Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center)

MINNESOTA
Driver’s Licenses Associated with Increased Earnings and Can Boost Economy

Expanding access to driver’s licenses would increase earnings and boost the state’s economy by increasing taxes and consumers’ purchases. (Minnesota Budget Project)

NEW JERSEY
Safe Roads Across the Tri-State Area: The Case for Expanding Access to Driver’s Licenses in New York and New Jersey

In states where driver’s licenses are available to all residents, such as neighboring Connecticut, clear and compelling evidence demonstrates these policies ensure safer roads, boost state revenues, provide more economic opportunities for working people, and help keep immigrant families together. Data also show that after states adopt driver’s license policies, road safety for all drivers improves dramatically. New York and New Jersey policymakers are currently considering driver’s license policies that would make an estimated 752,000 undocumented immigrants over the age of 16 in New York and 444,000 undocumented immigrants in New Jersey newly eligible to apply for driver’s licenses. An estimated 265,000 undocumented New Yorkers and 222,000 undocumented New Jersey residents are expected to take advantage of this program in the first three years. (The Center for Popular Democracy and NILC, May 2019)

NEW JERSEY
Fast Facts: Allowing Undocumented Residents to Drive Legally Would Help New Jersey

Report by a New Jersey think tank summarizes the safety, economic, and family-well-being arguments in favor of proposed New Jersey legislation that would allow undocumented residents to drive. Also highlights the political support for the measure. Outlines key provisions of the bill and clarifies that it wouldn’t grant a lawful immigration status, eligibility for benefits programs, or authorization to work. (New Jersey Policy Perspective)

NEW JERSEY
Share the Road: Allowing Eligible Undocumented Residents Access to Driver’s Licenses Makes Sense for New Jersey

Report by a New Jersey think tank arguing that “[a]llowing all residents the opportunity to drive legally would make New Jersey safer, help its economy and increase the well being of many families.” (New Jersey Policy Perspective)

NEW MEXICO
Don’t Wreck What’s Working: Keep All Drivers in New Mexico Licensed

Discusses the benefits of New Mexico’s driver’s license law (English and Spanish). (Somos Un Pueblo Unido)

NEW YORK
Safe Roads Across the Tri-State Area: The Case for Expanding Access to Driver’s Licenses in New York and New Jersey

In states where driver’s licenses are available to all residents, such as neighboring Connecticut, clear and compelling evidence demonstrates these policies ensure safer roads, boost state revenues, provide more economic opportunities for working people, and help keep immigrant families together. Data also show that after states adopt driver’s license policies, road safety for all drivers improves dramatically. New York and New Jersey policymakers are currently considering driver’s license policies that would make an estimated 752,000 undocumented immigrants over the age of 16 in New York and 444,000 undocumented immigrants in New Jersey newly eligible to apply for driver’s licenses. An estimated 265,000 undocumented New Yorkers and 222,000 undocumented New Jersey residents are expected to take advantage of this program in the first three years. (The Center for Popular Democracy and NILC, May 2019)

NEW YORK
The Road to Opportunity: Granting Driver’s Licenses to All New Yorkers

This report uses data from the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and the U.S. Census Bureau to predict that up to 150,000 undocumented immigrants in New York City would be eligible for a license if made available to them.  The report concluded that the benefits of extending driver’s privileges to all New Yorkers would enhance public safety, provide increased financial stability for families, increase employment opportunities, and lower auto insurance premiums.  The report also concluded that increased revenues would generate up to $9.6 million  in driver’s license fees, with an additional $1.3 to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and would boost auto sales by 2.7%, with resulting increases in registration and title fees, vehicle use taxes and gasoline sales taxes.  These revenues would offset program costs. (Office of New York City Comptroller, Jan. 31, 2017)

NORTH CAROLINA
Licensing All Drivers in North Carolina: A Policy that Supports Public Safety and Boosts the Economy

Describes the potential economic and public safety benefits of making driver’s licenses available to all qualified drivers in North Carolina, regardless of their immigration status. (Budget & Tax Center, a project of the North Carolina Justice Center)

NORTH CAROLINA
Licensing Drivers Protects Public Safety

Makes the case that expanding access to driver’s licenses promotes public safety by discussing AAA’s findings regarding unlicensed drivers in North Carolina. (NILC)

PENNSYLVANIA
Driver’s Licenses for All: The Key to Safety and Security in Pennsylvania

Examines the public-safety and human and economic benefits of expanding access to licenses in Pennsylvania, including an estimated increase in state revenues. Also describes the costs of not changing current law. Includes the results of a survey of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking undocumented immigrants in Pennsylvania, illustrating the effects on individuals and their family members of not having a driver’s license. (Social Justice Lawyering Clinic at the Stephen and Sandra Sheller Center for Social Justice at Temple University Beasley School of Law, on behalf of Fight for Driver’s Licenses)

VIRGINIA
Hands on the Wheel: Improving Safety and Boosting Communities through Removing Barriers to Driver’s Licenses

Makes the case that “[e]xpanding access to driver’s licenses would increase safety and help Virginia’s economy and communities.” Drivers who are trained, tested, and licensed are less likely to be involved in fatal traffic accidents or to leave the scene of an accident, and have greater access to car insurance. Obtaining licenses would help drivers carry out daily activities and secure work, and could result in lower insurance costs for everyone. Finally, expanding access to licenses would not have a major fiscal cost for the state. (Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis)


Restrictions’ Effect on Citizens & Lawfully Present Immigrants

The Impact of Driver’s License and Identification Card Restrictions on U.S. Citizens and Lawfully Present Immigrants

Explains how restrictive driver’s license documentation requirements do not simply affect undocumented immigrants but also prevent many eligible U.S. citizens and lawfully present immigrants from obtaining licenses and ID cards. (NILC)