FILE PHOTO | The Salt Lake Tribune Sen. Stephen Urquhart, R-Utah, says it is time to get rid of Utah's driving privilege cards for undocumented drivers. A Senate committee on Wednesday agreed, advancing his repeal bill to the full Senate.
A Senate committee Wednesday recommended doing away with Utah's "driving privilege" card for undocumented motorists — despite arguments that they will continue to drive but without auto insurance.
The Senate Transportation, Public Utilities and Technology Committee voted 4-1 to send SB138 by Sen. Stephen Urquhart, R-St. George, to the full Senate. It would do away with those cards — held by more than 40,000 drivers — entirely by next Jan. 1.
"Do we want to say, 'Well, you're here illegally. Here's a card. Welcome. ... Here's a government-issued ID that will allow you to move around freely?' " Urquhart aksed. "We're going to become a magnet for illegal aliens to come and get that card, when they live and move so freely and in such a welcoming manner."
Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, disagreed. The sponsor of the law authorizing the cards in 2005, Bramble testified that in the ensuing years the number of people holding one has hovered steadily between 41,000 and 43,000 — so the cards are not a magnet for illegal immigration.
While Urquhart said it is possible for undocumented workers to obtain insurance without the cards, Bramble said insurance companies tell him that it is difficult and would not happen in most instances.
"These individuals are going to drive regardless," said Greg Summerhays, representing the Greater Salt Lake Immigrant and Refugee Integration Initiative Council. "I want people on the road who have been through driving class, who have taken the driving test, who are safe drivers on the road, and who have insurance" — as required now to obtain the privilege card.
"Utahns should feel safer today" because of requirements behind the cards, said Tony Yapias, director of Proyecto Latino de Utah.
Meanwhile, Urquhart complained that the cards are often used for identification, even though the state stamps on them a prohibition of that use. He contends that documentation needed to obtain those cards is easily faked, so the state is aiding undocumented workers in making false identities.
Documents now required for cards include either an unexpired passport or a birth certificate from another country, plus another form of identification that can range from church records to a voter registration card from another country. It also requires two documents proving a local address.
Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, said that even if someone faked identification, the current process would at least require them to obtain insurance. Urquhart countered that they could quickly let insurance lapse after they obtain the card.
But Bramble cited legislative audits showing that the rates of uninsured drivers are similar for holders of the cards and other drivers. He added that the driving privilege cards must be renewed annually, so insurance must be, too.
Some anti-illegal immigration groups contended that Utah is violating federal law by issuing the cards. Ronald Mortensen, representing the Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration, said federal law prohibits "enticing or encouraging illegal aliens to reside in the United States," which he says the cards do.
A fiscal note on the bill says that doing away with the cards would cost Utah about $1 million a year in lost fees. Mortensen suggested "the driving privilege card is a profit center for the driving license division," and said the fiscal note shows the state is benefitting from illegal immigration.
Only Sen. Karen Mayne, D-West Valley City, voted against the measure. However, Committee Chairman Kevin Van Tassell, R-Vernal, said he voted to send it to the full Senate so that it will have more discussion, and said he has not made a decision whether to support it.
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Driving privilege card
Legislative audits in 2006 and 2008 found that more than 75 percent of those with driving privilege cards had auto insurance. That compared with 82 percent of those holding regular Utah driver licenses having insurance.
Source: Legislative Auditor General's Office
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