A new law called “Driver’s Licenses for All” will allow many more Minnesota residents to get drivers’ licenses. COPAL-MN (Communidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina) Lead Organizer Eduardo Peñasco and Driver & Vehicle Services (DVS) Program Manager Jacquelyn Eiffler took a dozen attendees at a March 14 meeting at the Columbia Heights Public Library through the steps to get licenses under the provisions of the new law.
Before 2003, residents of Minnesota did not have to provide proof of legal residence to get a driver’s license. A rule change during Governor Tim Pawlenty’s administration ended that practice because of post-9/11 homeland security concerns. But last March, Governor Tim Walz signed Driver’s Licenses for All into law, taking effect on October 1. The law eliminates the need to show proof of legal presence in the United States to get a standard Minnesota class D driver’s license, instruction permit or standard identification (ID) card. Thus, all Minnesota residents can now obtain a driver’s license regardless of immigration status. Supporters estimate that more than 80,000 immigrants who live in Minnesota can benefit from the law.
Papers needed for the license process are classified as primary or secondary documents. Primary documents include passports, birth or adoption certificates, certificates of citizenship or naturalization, permanent resident alien card, Department of Defense ID or American Indian ID. Secondary documents include a Social Security card, a nonimmigrant student status certificate, a foreign driver’s license, a taxpayer identification number, a marriage certificate, or a school transcript. In all, 18 primary documents and 34 secondary documents are usable for identification purposes. Applicants will need two primary documents or one primary and one secondary document to qualify. To get a license, an applicant who is 21 or older must prove their identity, pass the vision test and pass the written and driving tests. There are some different requirements for applicants who are between 16 and 21. The written test is in nine languages besides English.
Eiffler stressed that DVS is not allowed to share any information about an individual’s citizenship or immigration status, with one exception: the department can share this data with the Minnesota Secretary of State to improve voter registration records. Police access only allows them to determine if the license is valid and whether there are outstanding tickets. The legislation itself allows for the correction of aliases and name changes. She noted that there could be reluctance by some to apply — some fear it might invalidate their current foreign driver’s license, but that is not the case.
Peñasco describes COPAL-MN as a nonprofit, member-based organization established in 2018 to improve the quality of life of Latino families. Last year COPAL mobilized its members with other community leaders, faith congregations and elected lawmakers to pass the Driver’s Licenses for All legislation. “We transformed a system to better honor our human dignity. We continued to engage with the new law during the implementation process, where we were considered a key community stakeholder organization. Participating in rulemaking conversations connected us in strong relationship with DVS and the Department of Public Safety.” COPAL currently serves as a partner site for the written driver’s license exam. Their next presentation will be Saturday, June 29 from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. at the Anoka County Library Northtown.
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