Driver’s Licenses For All New Yorkers

Why the Driver’s Licenses For All New Yorkers campaign as RAC-NY’s first issue?

This is a fairness issue: there are nearly 800,000 undocumented NYers who do not have access to a driver’s license. They must choose every day- either to not drive to work, to school, to get groceries or go to worship, or go to the doctor- in essence, not to drive and live their lives; or to drive and risk being arrested and deported away from their family each and every time they step behind the wheel. Imagine how nervous you have been whenever you have been pulled over while driving, and then put yourself in their shoes.

This is a public safety issue: If undocumented NYers were given the opportunity to apply for licenses, they would be required to take the five hour safe driving course and road test, just like other New Yorkers. They would also then be able to get insurance, just like other New Yorkers. This law has already passed in 13 states, DC, and Puerto Rico, and has driven a drop in uninsured drivers AND a decrease in hit and run accidents according to studies done in some of those states.

This is an economic issue: Businesses in New York count on undocumented New Yorkers- and allowing them to apply for driver’s licenses would mean they’d be able to get to their jobs more consistently. Also, more insured drivers would mean a decrease in car insurance costs across the board in New York. Lastly, allowing undocumented New Yorkers a chance to get driver’s license would bring in revenue for the state: an estimated $26 Million in one time fees, as well as an annual estimated $57 million in registration fees, licensing fees, insurance fees, and taxes on car and gas purchases.

Most importantly, this is a Jewish issue: We know what it’s like to be strangers. The Torah commands to remember what it was like to be strangers in the land of Egypt DOZENS of times. Rabbis argued in our text for centuries about the requirements about being kind to the stranger. And in our own lives, we know- whether it is us, our parents or grandparents, friends, neighbors, Temple members or staff, we know what it’s like to be immigrants. This is a Jewish issue. This is our issue.

Our communities have the opportunity to speak up and help make this policy into law while we build a network of Reform communities standing together for a better New York.