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Support Drivers Cards for Immigrants in Wisconsin

ESTHER is 100% behind the efforts of Rep. Jocasta Zamarippa (8th Assembly District, D) and cosponsors in the State Legislature to provide Drivers Cards for residents of our state who do not have proof of legal residency. (See Assembly Bill 343 and Senate Bill 258.) Drivers Cards will enable people who need to drive—to get to work, to attend school, for health care, for emergencies—to do so legally. At the same time, our communities will benefit though safer streets and fewer people driving illegally. That's why so many mayors and chiefs of police around the state support this legislation.

Like the rest of us, immigrants need automobile transportation to manage their daily lives. In fact, prior to April 1, 2007, proof of legal residency was not required in Wisconsin in order to obtain a driver's license. Since the Federal Real ID standard was implemented in Wisconsin, however, immigrants without documents have been left without a means of driving legally. Public transit coverage in our area is spotty and limited on nights and weekends. Taxis are expensive and sometimes unreliable. Drivers Cards offer the undocumented an ID for any police stop, the ability to buy insurance, and a record in the DMV database for quicker resolution of any driving issues. Each person applying for a Drivers Card will have a vision test, written test and over the road test. Our roads will be safer. The undocumented will no longer have to drive in fear of a police stop.

Call your Assembly representative and Senator; tell them you think Drivers Cards are a good idea, and ask them to sign on as co-sponsors of these bills.

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