In recent months, the state of North Carolina has developed a plan to give illegal immigrants pink-striped driver's licenses. These special licenses would make it so that illegal immigrants can rightfully drive a vehicle, but they cannot use the license as a form of identification that would imply that they are citizens in the U.S.
The pink stripe on the license would act as somewhat of a mark, noting that the immigrants are not documented and should not be treated as such. Because driver's licenses are used as a common form of identification, the pink stripe may become a warning flag that would keep these immigrants from being able to find work. It would also tip off any police when they pull a driver over.
The Transportation Department spokesman Mike Charbonneau claims that the state opted against the license plan because the computer and printing coding is much easier if the licenses are the same for immigrants as they are for other drivers. In other words, it is much easier for the DMV of North Carolina to print everyone the exact same license format then to have to alter that format for every illegal immigrant that passes a driving test.
The state believes that they will save a significant amount of money if they do not go through with their original plan. The state instead will begin issuing licenses to young adults on Monday who were brought into the United States as children but are still not considered legal citizens.
Their licenses will have still markings to speak of their illegal status. All drivers' licenses will receive a clause which will declare that they have "No Lawful Status." The Obama Administration recently passed an act which allows some children of illegal immigrants who have grown up in the United States to work and remain in the United States without fear of deportation.
North Carolina is not the only state that has put markings on driver's licenses for men and women who are not legal citizens. In fact, only a few states currently immigrants to receive a driver's license and operate a vehicle. Illinois became the fourth state to permit this when the governor Pat Quinn signed a law allowing undocumented immigrants to apply in January.
The governor said that he supported this measure because he believes that it will improve road safety. This is because despite the fact that they are not licensed, many illegal immigrants will still drive. Undocumented immigrants can also operate a vehicle legally in New Mexico, and in Washington State. In Utah, illegal immigrants can obtain driving permits.
Statistics on Yahoo! News show that unlicensed and uninsured drivers are involved in about 80,000 accidents in the state of Illinois alone each year. This costs about $660 million in damage for that state only. Some states believe that allowing illegal immigrants to test for their licenses will help to encourage them to practice safe driving habits.
The state of Minnesota is also looking at a bill that would allow driver's licenses for immigrants. The Senate Transportation and Public Safety Committee in the state has already supposed the bill, which will ease restrictions on driver's license for non-U.S. citizens. Senator Bobby Champion in the state of Minnesota says that the bill would make Minnesota toads safer because more drivers would be taking the state test.
It would also make it easier for these drivers to get insurance. Some people who oppose the bill say that illegal immigrants may use their licenses in order to vote. If you want more information about the immigration driver's license provisions in your state, then you need to contact a local immigration lawyer.