(as of Dec. 20, 2019)
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
|
5. District of Columbia | Date Effective:
May 1, 2014 |
Bill: B20-275 ![]() Law: Driver’s Safety Amendment Act of 2013 Date Signed: Nov. 18, 2013 |
|
Law Description: The law allows for the issuance of licenses that are valid for eight years to people who can prove DC residency for more than six months, do not have a social security number, and can provide proof of identity, date of birth, and residency. The card will be marked “Not valid for official federal purposes.” The licenses may not be used “to consider an individual’s citizenship or immigration status, or as a basis for a criminal investigation, arrest, or detention.” |
6. Hawaii | Date Effective:
Jan. 1, 2016 |
Bill: H 1007 ![]() Law: Act 172 Date Signed: July 2, 2015 |
|
Law Description: The law allows for the issuance of driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. Applicants are required to provide proof of Hawaii residency. |
7. Illinois | Date Effective:
Nov. 28, 2013 |
Bill: SB 0957 ![]() Law: Public Act 097-1157 Date Signed: Jan. 27, 2013 |
|
Law Description: The law provides driver’s licenses to people who are ineligible for social security numbers, have resided in Illinois for over one year, and are unable to present documentation of a legal presence in the country. The applicant needs to provide a valid passport or consular identification. The license will be valid for three years, cannot be used as proof of identity, and will be marked as a temporary visitor’s driver’s license in capital letters. |
8. Maryland | Date Effective:
Jan. 1, 2014 |
Bill: SB 715 ![]() Law: Maryland Highway Safety Act of 2013 Date Signed: May 2, 2013 |
|
Law Description: The law allows 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 past 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. |
9. Nevada | Date Effective:
Jan. 1, 2014 |
Bill: SB 303 ![]() Law: Chapter 282 Date Signed: May 31, 2013 |
|
Law Description: The law stipulates that the Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles may not release information regarding the legal status of any person applying for a driver’s license. The license will be valid for one year and available to people who can prove identity, age, and residence in Nevada. The license card will have minimal distinguishing marks and cannot be used to determine eligibility for other benefits. |
10. New Jersey | Date Effective:
Jan. 1, 2021 |
Bill: AB 60 ![]() Law: To be determined Date Signed: Dec. 19, 2020 |
|
Law Description: The law will create two types of licenses. One will be the federally accepted REAL ID. The second will be a Standard Basic license that will be available to any New Jersey resident regardless of immigration status. The law also prohibits discrimination against people with Standard Basic licenses. |
11. New Mexico | Date Effective:
2003 |
Bill: HB 173 ![]() Law: 1978, Chapter 35, Section 231 Date Signed: Mar. 18, 2003 |
|
Law Description: The law allows for an applicant to provide an individual tax identification number or other document designated by the department instead of a social security number “regardless of immigration status.” |
12. New York | Date Effective:
Dec. 14, 2019 |
Bill: A3675B ![]() Law: Driver’s License Access and Privacy Act Date Signed: June 17, 2019 |
|
Law Description: The law prevents any records used to obtain a driver’s license from being public record or being otherwise disclosed except by warrant or other court order. The law also expands the documents allowed to be used as proof of identity to include but not limited to an unexpired foreign passport, a foreign driver’s license that is less than 24 months expired, and a consular identification document, but the driver will not have to prove legal residency. The driver may sign an affidavit declaring a social security number has not been issued to them, instead of submitting a social security number. The licenses will be identical to other licenses but will not meet REAL ID federal standards. |
13. Utah | Date Effective:
Mar. 8, 2005 |
Bill: SB 227 ![]() Law: Title 53 Chapter 3 Section 207 Date Signed: Mar. 8, 2005 |
|
Law Description: The law allows the DMV to issue a “driving privilege” card to people in the country illegally who can prove Utah residency. The card is distinguished 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. |
14. Vermont | Date Effective:
Jan. 1, 2014 |
Bill: S 38 ![]() Law: Sec. 1. 23 V.S.A. § 603 Date Signed: June 5, 2013 |
|
Law Description: The law allows residents of Vermont in the country illegally to obtain an “operator’s privilege card” if they provide proof of name; date; and place of birth via a valid foreign passport, a valid consular identification document, or a certified birth, marriage, adoption, or divorce certificate; and proof of Vermont residency. The card will be marked “privilege card” and cannot be used for federal identification and will expire on midnight the night before the applicant’s second birthday after issuance. |
15. Washington | Date Effective:
July 25, 1993 |
Bill: HB 1444 ![]() Law: Chapter 452, Laws of 1993 Date Signed: May 17, 1993 |
|
Law Description: The law allows driver’s licenses to be issued without a social security number if the applicant can provide proof of Washington residency via a home utility bill, a college or university document, a Selective Service card, a car title, bank-issued documents, individual tax identification number, Washington school transcripts or other school documents, DSHS benefits eligibility documents, or a recent Washington marriage certificate or child’s birth certificate, as long as the document shows the applicant’s name and current Washington residence. Other documents may be considered. |
Sources:
Ilona Bray, “Can Undocumented Immigrants Get Drivers’ Licenses?,” lawyers.com (accessed Dec. 4, 2018)
National Conference of State Legislatures, “States Offering Driver’s Licenses to Immigrants,” www.ncsl.org, July 8, 2015
National Immigration Law Center, “Current & Pending State Laws & Policies on Driver’s Licenses for Immigrants/February 2014,” www.nilc.org, Feb. 2014
National Immigration Law Center, “State Laws Providing Access to Driver’s Licenses or Cards Regardless of Immigration Status,” www.nilc.org, Feb. 2014
New York State Senate, “Assembly Bill A3675B,” nysenate.gov (accessed June 18, 2019)
Kirk Semple, “In Trenton, Issuing IDs for Illegal Immigrants,” www.nytimes.com, May 16, 2010
People who view this page may also like: