2017

Published 8:40 PM EDT Apr 15, 2015 RALEIGH – People living illegally in the U.S. Could obtain a driver’s permit in North Carolina if they go through several legal hoops, under legislation that cleared a House committee Wednesday. Enough members on a judiciary panel voted for the bill, which also would make it a felony to sell fake driver’s licenses and identification cards, and eliminate certain documents from foreign countries as being acceptable forms of proof for identification. The key element in the measure is the state’s creation of a “restricted” driver’s permit and an identification card, which would expire after one year and not be valid for certain government benefits or to register to vote. Those seeking the permit or card would have to undergo a criminal background check and subject themselves to fingerprinting.

Drivers also would have to show proof of auto insurance. Harry Warren, R-Rowan, chief spokesman for the measure, said about 325,000 immigrants who are in the country illegally live in North Carolina.

Twelve states and the District of Columbia enacted laws to allow unauthorized immigrants to obtain a driver’s licenses. Skip to page content. This law allows drivers license applicants without Social Security numbers to provide alternate documentation to show proof of residence in the state of Washington such. Unauthorized Immigrants’ Access to Driver’s Licenses Is at Risk. Which started its program at the beginning of 2015. One of the first states to issue licenses to illegal immigrants. The North Carolina driver handbook is a great resource for drivers. However, there are other helpful resources available besides the drivers manuals. Browse through the North Carolina Vehicle Code for detailed information on topics such as NC traffic laws, driver's.

The cards would give police officers more information about them if they are pulled over, Rowan said. This bill “has nothing to do with immigration, immigration law or immigration reform,” Warren told committee members. “This is a bill about law enforcement and public safety.” It is hard for police to determine the credibility of the documents that immigrants currently carry, Warren said, such as foreign identification documents or IDs created by nonprofit immigrant-support groups. Opponents of the measure said permits would only encourage more immigrants to live in North Carolina illegally and told lawmakers their constituents don’t want them. “Giving driving permits to illegal aliens will not make our roads any safer,” said Ron Woodard, director of N.C. Listen, which seeks greater immigration restrictions. If drivers with these permit decide to cancel their car insurance, he told the committee, “who is going to find them or take away their permits?” The North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police supports the legislation.

Undocumented Immigrants Drivers License

Group lobbyist Fred Baggett said the permits and card will “provide reliable, uniform identification” that will help police whenever they engage with immigrants. Thirteen states offer driver’s licenses or permits to immigrants living in the country illegally, Warren said. He said immigrants who engage in criminal activities would head for other states where they could obtain full driver’s licenses. Corpid condensed font free download. The proposed permits would be marked to make clear they don’t carry the same weight as a driver’s license for transactions, he said. The bill now heads to the House Finance Committee.

The debate among committee members was muted, with a few representatives quietly voting no. A broad immigration measure proposed two years ago and containing some of the same provisions in Wednesday’s bill died that year mostly under the weight of divisive immigration politics.

Maudia Melendez with Jesus Ministry in Charlotte, a Latino advocacy group, said she is hopeful the changes will pass this year. “If we don’t pay attention to the community of immigrants, we are opening the doors for other criminals to come in,” she said after the meeting.

The House commerce committee Wednesday approved different legislation that also eliminates certain foreign documents as qualifying forms of identification while reworking portions of state law requiring employers to check workers’ immigration status against the federal E-Verify database.