Once again, a push is underway in the Florida Legislature to allow people that are not residents of the state of Florida to be able to get driver’s licenses.
The state currently allows a temporary permit for some people here on either a tourist or work visa but a bill introduced by state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, would expand that to include any person living in Florida whether they are here legally or not.
“This legislation ensures that all Floridians have the opportunity to be trained, licensed, and insured to drive. An estimated 685,000 undocumented Floridians are currently unable to get car insurance because state law prohibits them from obtaining driver licenses,” Smith said.
People driving without driver’s licenses or insurance has been a major problem in Florida, Smith said, adding consumers ended up with higher insurance costs.
“Expanding license access to safe drivers increases public safety, reduces accidents with uninsured motorists and brings down insurance premiums. HB 1451 will also bring $68.6 million in new revenue to the state, grow the economy through vehicle sales and reduce barriers to economic prosperity for hardworking residents,” Smith said.
The bill would allow a new series of documents to be used to get a Florida driver’s license. These include consular identification documents, passports issued by a foreign government, birth certificates issued by a foreign government, driver’s licenses issued by a foreign government and assorted school, court and marriage documents. People who obtain these licenses in Florida would not be able to use them in place of federal documents for flying or to vote.
Republicans in control of the Florida Legislature are ready to stop the bill from becoming law. State Rep. Anthony Sabatini, R-Howey in the Hills, spoke bluntly with Florida Daily about the legislation.
“Absolutely terrible bill that would lead to drastic increases of illegal immigration both in Florida and the United States,” Sabatini said. “This bill is a sad attempt to subvert the immigration system and is a slap in the face to law-abiding Americans.”
While there is a companion bill filed by state Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, Sabatini expects it to die in the Florida House.
“Thankfully, this bill has little to no chance of passage since Republican leaders believe in the rule of law,” Sabatini told Florida Daily.
This is not the first time legislators in Florida have tried to pass a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses. So far, none of those bills have gained much traction. Fifteen other states and Washington D.C. have passed similar legislation.
Reach Mike Synan at mike.synan@floridadaily.com.
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Rather than passing a bill to give driver license to illegals – why not encourage them to become legal by working on improving the system to become a citizen!!!!
True! #Trump2020
Actually you are wrong, it will aloud parents and children of US citizens, stuck on immigration Guru process to get the essential needs of life. Like to take their kids to school or to doctors.
No everyone is illegal because they want, immigration system inaccurate. It takes sometimes 20 to 30 years to get legal !
Don’t do it!! This is not fair to any American citizen! Let them become citizens the right way!! This is NOT an I.D. It is a privlige and tests must be taken to achieve a DL.
I think this Is not right
We have to be legally in this country past examination to get drivers license paid very expensive car insurance.i hope Republicans dont do that .this is going be a disaster for Florida
You going to reward peoples who trespassed our borders whithou permission..driver licenses is privileged not right.
I don’t understand your concern. Immigrants like anyone else will need to pass a test and pay insurance, just like you.
68 millions in revenue doesn’t sound like a disaster.
They ALL need to be deported… 685,000!? Good God. Send them all back. Now.
Our socalled Representatives for the citizens? However the only thing you do is criticize the taxpayer’s that pay your enormously huge paycheck’s, an all the sorryassed Representatives do more for all the Muslims an Illegals than they do for the retirees who payed taxes all our lives. Thanks for nothing government elite, make it easy for the Illegals!!!!
This is an invitation to voter fraud and citizens stuck with the results of any auto accidents. You think they’re going to maintain insurance? Who will get stuck with the bill? What part of “illegal” is so difficult to understand. You reward illegal behavior and you assault respect for the rule of law. Want to know why illegal immigrants come here? There is no respect for the rule of law in their countries which results in massive corruption and basket case economies. Corruption, like state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando is proposing here.
I read in disbelief the hate and ignorance in the comments above. Has no one thought about the larger picture? Like it or not they are here and not going anywhere, so, wouldn’t it be better that they have valid drivers licenses instead of driving without one? Registered in the system instead of hiding? I’m assuming you are all referring to the people that are cutting your grass, cleaning your house, growing your crops, caring for your horses and doing every job that Americans won’t do) Did you know that there are people here for 20 plus years with valid licenses, ssn# and pay taxes but for various non criminal reasons are unable to obtain status? Now those people (professionals, business owners, etc…) can’t renew their license due to real ID compliance? Do you think they are just going to stop driving? Leave their families? Quit their jobs and walk away? What if they own the company you work for and now you are out of a job because the business needs to close shop? Have I made you stop to think just a little? WAKE UP PEOPLE! You are talking about your co workers and neighbors and you don’t even know it or you do and you just don’t care…..
Thank you Stacee for atleast one comon sence coment. I have been in this country 20 years, over stayed my visa, i am from Europe. I pay taxes for 16 years,having no criminal record, have no depts,i working on my own in constructin, having 2 helpers (american citizens),i would like to become citizen and be good citizen. I spent 1/2 of my life here. But there is no way to legalize. I will have to divorse my wife (been together 22 years) and get meried here, or i can invest $900,000 to open business. There is no law to allow immigrants who live here to become legal. Politics need to do their job. I know many people like me,who have their own bussines, having houses, even employing american citizens,they paying taxes like me on ITIN number (mean no retirament without SSN), but have no legal status and no Florida DL. We are happy to pay any penalty or fine to become legal citizens, but politics has to pass some law. Anywhere in the world if somebody live somewhere illegaly more than 10 years,but can prove that he is good citizen,paying taxes, no criminal record, this person will get legal status immediately.
And you people above – i paid my price already. Try to not see your family and country for 20 years,not by able to go on your mother funeral,etc… How can you call your self cristians ?
And i forget to say. Many people like my self are suporting president Trump, because we know better than anyone ,how bad is the immigration system broken. I hope they will change this curent system on merit system like in other coutries.
Well SAID!!!!
Well SAID!!!!