Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Urging/Supporting Legislation
Purpose: Urging the State Legislature to Grant Access to Driver's Licenses to Undocumented New Jersey Residents and the Governor to Sign the Legislation
Additional Information:
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WHEREAS, the Municipal Council of the City of Newark support the economic health, cultural diversity, and public safety of the City of Newark; and
WHEREAS, Municipal Council recognizes the fundamental importance of all of our residents' ability to participate in civic life, ensure the health and safety of their families, and to move freely across this State; and
WHEREAS, New Jersey law currently prohibits undocumented residents from obtaining a driver's license; and
WHEREAS, other states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Vermont, Washington, and Utah, as well as Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico do not prohibit access to driver's licenses based on immigration status; and
WHEREAS, the safety of the City of Newark's roads would be enhanced if all residents of appropriate driving age were tested, trained, licensed, and insured, regardless of immigration status; and
WHEREAS, The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has documented that car crashes rank among the leading causes of death in the United States and that approximately one in five fatal crashes in the United States involve an unlicensed or invalidly licensed driver; and
WHEREAS, New Jersey would become safer with fewer uninsured and unlicensed drivers on the road, resulting in a predicted decrease in fatal traffic accidents and fewer hit-and-run crimes; and
WHEREAS, the public safety of the City of Newark would be enhanced by helping bring immigrant communities out of the shadows to participate more fully in civic life, building trust and cooperation between immigrant communities and law enforcement and strengthening the ability of police to investigate and solve crimes; and
WHEREAS, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) estimates that if New Jersey law were changed to expand access to driver's licenses to undocumented residents, between 153,000 and 278,000 New Jersey residents would apply for a driver's license within the first three years of eligibility; and
WHEREAS, expanding access to driver's licenses would enhance New Jersey's and the City of Newark's economy; and
WHEREAS, undocumented immigrants pay an estimated $476 million in state and local taxes in New Jersey each year; and
WHEREAS, NJPP estimates that New Jersey insurance companies would take in over $200 million in additional premiums per year, saving money for existing policyholders by expanding the pool of policyholders and reducing the number of claims against uninsured drivers; and
WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey would take in millions in new revenue from fees paid by new driver's license applicants and license renewals; and
WHEREAS, the City of Newark's local economy would be bolstered by strengthening the mobility of its workforce and enhancing economic participation in undocumented communities; and
WHEREAS, the Municipal Council of the City of Newark supports expanding access to driver's licenses to undocumented New Jersey residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Municipal Council urges the New Jersey State Legislature to pass legislation and urges the Governor to sign legislation expanding access to driver's licenses to undocumented New Jersey residents.
2. A copy of this resolution shall be forwarded by the Municipal Clerk to the Offices of the Essex County Legislative Delegation and to the Office of
Governor Chris Christie.
STATEMENT
A Resolution urging the State Legislature to pass legislation and urges the Governor to sign legislation expanding access to driver's licenses to undocumented New Jersey residents.