California survey says no licenses for illegals

February 14, 2004

Assemblywoman Sharon Runner has announced the results of a survey her office sent to residents of the 36th Assembly District. The results are clear – the people do not want illegal immigrants to have California driver’s licenses.

The office received more than 6,000 responses to the survey, and 98% of the respondents said driver's licenses should not be extended to drivers in California illegally.

In November, state legislators repealed SB 60, which would have allowed people living here without legal documentation to apply for regular driver's licenses. But the bill's author, Sen. Gilbert Cedillo, last week introduced SB 1160, which Runner termed the "Son of SB 60."

"Giving someone here illegally the right to drive with a driver's license is something the citizens of California do not support," said Runner, R-Lancaster. "We will have the same outcry to SB 1160."

Runner pointed to the outpouring of anger against SB 60, which former Gov. Gray Davis had signed into law as momentum toward his recall.

Critics said the law provided no safeguards against terrorists receiving the legal identity card, and opponents collected thousands of signatures in order to let the public vote the law out by referendum.

"The citizens of California really spoke out, and because of the outcry the governor, with the help of the Legislature, was able to repeal the bill," Runner said.

Runner's staff sent out the survey to 90,000 households, and the assemblywoman said the response was the largest she's seen.

"It's very unusual to get that many people sending back the comment cards," said Runner, adding that residents had to stamp the cards themselves.

Some people, besides checking a box that indicated their opposition to the concept, wrote in their own comments.
"Don't break the rule for rule-breakers," wrote a Quartz Hill resident; "It is an insult to those who follow our laws," said a Lancaster respondent; and "illegal is illegal," another Lancaster resident wrote in.

The language to SB 1160 is not yet finalized; an outline released when the bill was introduced Feb. 4 said it would improve highway safety by "ensuring that all drivers of motor vehicles are properly licensed, tested, and maintain proof of financial responsibility."