Undocumented immigrants urged to hit books for driver's test

High-ranking officials from California's Department of Motor Vehicles came to Sonoma County on Tuesday with a singular message for local undocumented immigrants:|

High-ranking officials from California's Department of Motor Vehicles came to Sonoma County on Tuesday with a singular message for local undocumented immigrants: Start studying for your driver's license test.

After Jan. 1, undocumented immigrants will be allowed to obtain driver's licenses under AB 60, which was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in October. Between 1.4 million and 2 million undocumented immigrants living in California are expected to apply.

On Tuesday evening, Mike McGowan and Lizette Mata, both DMV deputy directors appointed by Brown, attended a community forum in Santa Rosa aimed at educating the local immigrant community about the new law. About 70 people, most of them immigrants, attended the forum, which was held at the Lawrence Cook Middle School multipurpose room.

'The way you always tell your kids you have to study and try hard in school — that's what you have to do now,' Mata told the crowd, invoking their laughter.

Mata, who is DMV's deputy director of special projects and is overseeing the agency's AB 60 outreach and education efforts, told attendees at the forum that because of the sheer number of people who will be applying for licenses, it is crucial that people study for the written test and make an effort to pass it the first time. A second appointment will be difficult to schedule, she said.

In Nevada, which began allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver authorization cards in January, about 90 percent of people taking the written test failed the first time, officials said.

Tuesday's forum is part of a massive outreach effort in California. Mata said 60 such events have been held across the state thus far, with about 25,000 people in attendance. Another 30 events are planned for the next month and a half, and more are planned for Sonoma County.

Earlier Tuesday, Mata and McGowan, the DMV's deputy director of strategic planning and policy, attended the Board of Supervisors meeting and gave an update on the implementation of the new law. Supervisor Efren Carrillo reached out to McGowan to organize the forum, which was attended by a slew of other regional and local DMV officials.

'There are many people in our community who need to go to work and who need to take their kids to school, said Carrillo, adding that the new law will make that possible.

Mata, who led most of the forum, speaking in Spanish, ran through a list of documents that will be required to prove both California residency and identification. She said that although that list is still being finalized by DMV officials, identification cards such as the Mexican voter credential and consular cards are likely to be approved.

Mata reminded attendees that the law does not go into effect until the beginning of next year, and that people should be wary of con artists hoping to prey on immigrants eager to obtain a driver's license before that date, or offering expensive consultation services.

All the information and help to begin studying for the test can be obtained at the DMV or on the department's website, she said.

The only cost aside from resolving pending traffic or parking ticket violations will be the $33 driver's license fee.

'It's free, free, free,' she said, adding there's no need to pay a notary or consultant for anything.

In accordance with AB 60, the driver's license for undocumented immigrants will contain a special mark that will distinguish it from a regular driver's license. It will not be valid as an official form of identification, Mata said.

Some of the people who attended the forum expressed concern about the marked driver's license. Others were asked if the information obtained by the DMV will be shared with law enforcement of federal immigration officials.

Mata assured them that the DMV will share no information with any agency unless there is a court order to do so. Some of the immigrants attending the forum said they were eager to obtain their license.

'With a license, you can drive where you want and not be afraid of being stopped by the police,' said Irene Gonzalez of Santa Rosa.

Gonzalez said she's looking forward to taking the test and hopes to pass it the first time.

Jesus Rosas of Santa Rosa said his old driver's license expired in 1996 and, with the exception of a fix-it ticket and tickets for driving without a license, his driving record is clean.

'It's going to help a lot of our people,' he said. 'Our community really needs this license.'

You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@ pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @renofish.

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