It would be ironic if Colorado lawmakers’ efforts last year to crack down on illegal immigrants resulted in a loosening of standards to get a Colorado driver’s license.
In a roundabout way, that’s what will happen if Gov. Bill Ritter signs state House Bill 1313, which is on his desk now.
It’s a convoluted policy tale that began with the passage of a bill in last summer’s special session requiring applicants for public aid to prove legal residency.
The measure caused all manner of problems for a relatively small but vulnerable segment of the population – the homeless, disabled and senior citizens.
Well-meaning advocates for some of these people urged the passage of HB 1313, which would loosen requirements for getting a driver’s license. It would allow an applicant to present a U.S. passport, which could be expired or issued under a nickname, or a driver’s license from another state as proof of legal status.
Trouble is, many states have looser documentation standards for obtaining state IDs and driver’s licenses. Once the word got out – and it would – Colorado could become a gateway for people seeking easy access to the legitimacy afforded by a driver’s license.
There also are concerns that if 1313 becomes law, it would put Colorado at odds with federal efforts to establish national standards for obtaining a driver’s license or state-issued ID card – the so-called Real ID act that sets out standards and procedures for driver’s licenses and ID cards that must be met by May 2008.
If Ritter vetoes 1313, the vulnerable people who are here legally but unable to navigate the system or provide the documentation necessary would not be left out in the cold. The Colorado Department of Revenue recently has established a flexible process for these folks, said Diane Reimer, spokeswoman for the department. Since May 9, 199 people have applied for a state-issued ID card through this conduit. Of them, 122 have been approved, 32 were turned away and 39 remain in the pipeline, Reimer said.
Meanwhile, the department has been conducting administrative hearings to set rules for obtaining licenses and IDs just in case 1313 fails to become law.
While we applaud the intentions of those trying to help the less fortunate, loosening standards for obtaining a Colorado driver’s license ultimately would be no public service. We urge the governor to veto this bill and rely on the administrative expertise in his driver’s license agency to craft strict but reasonable standards for obtaining these important identification documents.
