CoFiA is strongly supporting the statewide initiative to allow all New Jersey residents to apply for driver’s licenses, regardless of their immigration status. The following information is adapted from the newsletter of New Jersey Policy Perspective. If this happens New Jersey would become the 12th state to have this policy, joining Utah, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, Vermont, Colorado, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, New Mexico, Washington, plus the District of Columbia.
In total, about 466,000 New Jersey undocumented immigrants would be eligible, and it is anticipated that about 233,000 would receive a license within the first three years of implementation.
NJPP and other groups believe that the policy would make the state safer, because more people could be accountable for their driving record. When they are driving legally, people are less likely to flee the scene of an accident, and trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement would be strengthened.
Further, the policy would have a positive economic impact on the state; annual premium payments for auto insurance would increase; about $11.7 million would be received in license fees, plus ongoing additions for renewals; and the newly licensed drivers would buy and register more cars.
The benefits to families cannot be overstated–parents would be able to drive their children to school, and there would be fewer separations of families from deportation or detention.