Driver authorization cards win Nevada Senate committee approval

CARSON CITY — “For the times they are a-changin’,” Bob Dylan sang back in the 1960s.

It took awhile, but attitudes are a changin’ in the Nevada Legislature as well.

On a 6-1 vote Friday, members of the Senate Transportation Committee approved Senate Bill 303, which would allow the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue driver authorization cards to residents who are in country illegally.

That means they legally could drive on Nevada roads if they pass the state driving test and have liability insurance on their cars and trucks.

In the past, legislators never would have thought about giving anything to illegal residents, but on Friday all Democrats and two of the three Republicans on the committee voted for the bill.

Because Democratic and Republican leaders in both houses back the bill, it probably will become law.

Sen. Joe Hardy, R-Boulder City, initially had doubts about the bill, but after a hearing in which he heard about its benefits, he added his name to the list of the bill’s sponsors.

In previous hearings, Senate Majority Leader Mo Denis, D-Las Vegas, said he expects 60,000 to 62,000 residents would the acquire cards. Nevada has more than 100,000 illegal residents.

If the bill becomes law, the DMV would start issuing the cards in January.

Friday’s hearing, teleconferenced between Carson City and in Las Vegas, attracted more than 100 people, many of them Hispanic.

CARDS GIVEN A NEW NAME

Denis testified Friday that the cards, initially called driving privilege cards, would become known as driver authorization cards because “that is what they will do.” His amendment to change the name was adopted.

The cards could not be used for official federal or state identification, and police could not use them for deportation or immigration reasons, he said.

Denis himself has a Cuban background and is one of seven Hispanics in the Legislature. Until recent years, rarely was there more than one Hispanic legislator.

He said after the vote that the driver authorization card just makes good sense.

“This will help Nevada,” Denis said. “We will have safety on the roads and ultimately it will help the economy.”

During a luncheon after the vote, several dozen Hispanic people applauded the bill’s advancement and met with legislators.

“It is great news,” said Mario de la Rosa of Reno.

He said an extra benefit will be that the Latino community will feel more respected and they in turn will have more respect for the state.

“All the community will feel great,” said de la Rosa, who was born in Mexico. “You feel great in a country where you are not afraid and where the Legislature is respectful to the Hispanic community. This is a huge factor for the immigrant Latino community.

About 35 people, many in their teens, rode a bus from Las Vegas to watch the hearing. Several said the bill will benefit their mothers, who sometimes drive without licenses and are afraid of being stopped by police or getting involved in accidents.

BILL CALLED ‘WIN-WIN’

Transportation Chairman Mark Manendo, D-Las Vegas, said after the hearing that SB303 is a “win-win” bill for every driver.

People in the country illegally would have to pass the state driving test and buy insurance. The uninsured motorist rate probably would drop and illegal drivers no longer would fear dealing with police if they are involved in accidents, he said.

“Folks are out there driving now without insurance,” Manendo said. “Everyone is in danger. This is an excellent bill that will protect the public.”

The only opposition was from Sen. Don Gustavson, R-Sparks. He said he could not back the bill because of “overwhelming” opposition from his constituents, but added he expects more comments from his constituents and might vote for the bill when it comes to the Senate floor.

After the hearing, Gustavson said his dilemma is whether the state should reward people who came to the country illegally, while as a practical matter he believes the bill would lead to greater safety.

“Look at all the hit-and-run accidents,” said Gustavson, then added he thinks that in some cases they involve residents who fear the consequences of driving without licenses and insurance.

“We have to protect our citizens,” he said.

Sen. Patricia Spearman, D-Las Vegas, said the bill was “the right thing to do.”

In a previous hearing, interim DMV Director Troy Dillard said his agency will hire 14 new workers in Las Vegas and four in other parts of the state to handle the increased workload needed to handle the cards. He added he believes the cards will more than pay for state costs since they cost $22 each.

To get a card, people would have to show some kind of evidence that they are who they claim to be, such as a birth certificate, a consulate card or driver’s license from another country, along with proof of their residence, such as a utility or rent bill.

Nevada would become the fourth state with driving cards for illegal residents. The Nevada bill was modeled after a law in Utah.