We believe that the 2015 Colorado Legislature is veering off course by limiting funding for offices, which issue driver’s licenses to those who are undocumented. Despite passage in 2013 of a bill allowing undocumented immigrants to receive driver’s license in our state, there is now an attempt to defund the programs necessary to execute this lawfully enacted legislation.
Returning to the road of responsibility, legislation is once again being considered to allow the state to continue funding offices that issue driver’s licenses to those who are undocumented.
While everyone is in favor of highway safety, not all agree that residents without proper documentation should be licensed to drive, hence the controversy. However, the reality is that thousands of undocumented people live in our state, and, out of necessity, many operate vehicles on our streets and highways without a driver’s license. By driving to work, taking children to school, attending appointments, they are unnecessarily putting themselves and others at risk. Allowing these drivers to be legally licensed is common-sense legislation that creates safer roads for everyone by ensuring all drivers are properly trained, licensed and insured. An additional benefit is that these drivers can also participate in our desperately needed organ-donor program if they wish.
Such licensing is congruent with interfaith teachings that emphasize the importance of valuing and giving good treatment to all people, including the “stranger and sojourner.” Our scriptures command us to “treat the sojourner among you as a citizen, for you yourselves were once sojourners” and “to love your neighbor as yourself.” In a nation where “family values” are so often trumpeted, families are being torn apart. The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights says: “The family is the basic unit of society and should therefore be protected by the state.” Numerous statements supporting legislation that recognizes the humanity of all immigrants have been issued by the interfaith community. It should be clear that this legislation is morally right.
Highway safety is a major issue in this discussion. To be awarded the privilege of receiving a Colorado driver’s license, an undocumented applicant must pay an additional fee of $50.50, which, in accordance with a restrictive clause in the TABOR Amendment, may only be used to expand the driver’s license program. An applicant must also pass an eye examination, a written test on highway safety regulations and a driving test to determine if he or she has the necessary knowledge and skills to be licensed. Furthermore, the driver is then required to obtain auto insurance.
Tested, licensed and insured drivers improve highway safety; therefore, Colorado police chiefs and sheriffs issued statements supporting the program when it was first proposed and passed in the Legislature in 2013. Many district attorneys also favor the plan because prosecuting minor traffic violations takes time from their crowded dockets. In addition to Colorado, nine other states and Washington, D.C., have passed legislation allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.
As faith leaders with Together Colorado who minister to and with people from all walks of life, including immigrants, we strongly believe that well-intentioned immigrants who have traveled here to escape the dangers and degradation of violence and poverty in search of better conditions for themselves and their families contribute to our communities. For the safety and betterment of all, please contact your state senators and representatives and ask them to take the high road by supporting legislation to continue the program which allows undocumented residents to obtain a driver’s license.
Rabbi Eliot J Baskin represents the Together Colorado faith leaders caucus. He lives in Durango. Reach him at cyberrebbe@aol.com.
