Thousands of undocumented immigrants granted California driver's licenses

ByABC7.com staff KABC logo
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
This file photo shows people forming a line outside a California Department of Motor Vehicles office.
This file photo shows people forming a line outside a California Department of Motor Vehicles office.
KABC-KABC

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- More than 10,000 undocumented immigrants were issued California driver's licenses during the first full week of AB 60's implementation.

A total of 10,100 licenses were issued between Jan. 3 and Jan 9, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. A total of 11,070 have been issued since Jan. 2.

The licenses were authorized under legislation AB60, which was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013.

New California laws taking effect in 2015

Under AB 60, applicants must prove who they are, that they live in California and pass both the written and driving tests. A total of 109,700 driver license exams, written or behind-the-wheel, have been administered since Jan. 2.

DMV officials say they expect about 1.4 million undocumented immigrants to apply for a driver's license in the first three years. The new law is aimed at making roads safer.