Woonsocket Radio News Room

Senate passes Ciccone’s bill which grants driving privileges to undocumented residents

 

STATE HOUSE – The Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Frank A. Ciccone (D-Dist. 7, Providence, North Providence) which allows the Division of Motor Vehicles to issue driving privileges to undocumented residents in the state.

“We need to ensure that all drivers, regardless of their immigration status, are trained, tested and insured when driving on our roads,” said Senator Ciccone. “This is a safety issue as well as an economic issue.  If the worst was to happen and an accident occurs involving an undocumented person driving, our residents and businesses are protected far better if this legislation is enacted as opposed to the current status quo.”

The legislation (2022-S 2006Aaa) states that in order to apply for the driving privilege card or permit, an applicant must have verification from the tax administrator that the applicant either has filed a personal income tax return as a resident with this state for the tax year preceding the date of application or has been claimed as a dependent on a personal income tax return by an individual who has filed a personal income tax return as a resident with this state for the tax year preceding the date of application.  The applicant must also present two primary proof of identity documents, or one primary proof of identity document and one secondary proof of identity document, and two proof of residency documents.  The applicant must also be in compliance with insurance requirements.

Currently, those unable to establish a lawful presence in the United States are unable to produce the documentation, such as a Social Security number, that state law requires for the issuing of a driver’s license.  Also, neither the permit nor card would be usable for federal or state identification or voting purposes.

The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.

 

Headines 4        U.S. service members were paid this week, despite the government shutdown. The White House released a memo from President Trump directing the Pentagon to use unspent funds to pay the military. Speaker Mike Johnson warned that the move was a "temporary fix."        President Trump says the CIA is approved to take action in Venezuela. In confirming the authorization on Wednesday, Trump was asked by reporters at the White House if the CIA had been given the greenlight to "take out" Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He refused to answer.        Brown University is saying no to a deal proposed by the White House to change policy in exchange for federal funding benefits. The deal would have required the university to limit international students and otherwise align with the priorities of the Trump administration. In exchange, the school would have received priority for federal funding. In a letter to the White House, Brown's president said she is concerned the compact "would restrict academic freedom and undermine the autonomy of Brown's governance."        The Supreme Court is rejecting an appeal from conservative media personality Alex Jones to block a one-point-five-billion-dollar billion defamation judgment against him. Jones was hit with the massive judgment over his false claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax.        Measles cases continue to spike in the United States. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there has been an average of 27 new cases each week since the end of August. The annual total is now above 15-hundred, the highest since measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000.        The Blue Jays are on the board in the American League Championship Series after bashing the Mariners 13-4 from Seattle. Alejandro Kirk launched a three-run homer as Toronto trails the best-of-seven series 2-1 heading into Game Four in the Evergreen State on Thursday       

Old News Archives