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Driver’s license numbers are way up in Mass. — probably thanks to migrant drivers law
It’s been one year since residents without lawful status could apply for a state driver's license.
A spike in new driver’s licenses in the state is linked to the first anniversary of a law permitting undocumented immigrants to apply for licenses, officials say.
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles reports issuing 183,825 new learner’s permits and 128,078 new driver’s licenses to residents since the law went into effect, representing a 161% increase for new permits and a 132% increase in new licenses compared to the previous year.
The numbers include 54,238 out-of-state license conversions that the state processed, which are part of the number of new driver’s licenses issued.
“The Work and Family Mobility Act has made our roads safer, our economy stronger, and improved the quality of life for thousands of our residents,” Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement.
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Massachusetts residents who do not have a lawful presence in the United States can apply for and obtain driver’s licenses, which the RMV says look exactly like licenses given to everyone else.
The law allows the RMV to accept more documents that prove a person’s identity and date of birth, including a foreign passport, consular identification document, a foreign national ID card, and a foreign driver’s license.
“What has been the most rewarding is all the wonderful stories we’ve heard and examples we’ve seen since last summer of residents whose lives have been changed by this law,” Registrar of Motor Vehicles Colleen Ogilvie said in a statement.
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Ogilvie said one of those examples includes a daughter taking a picture of her mom to mark the special milestone of being issued a learner’s permit to drive, “which was especially heartwarming.”
The RMV hired 250 employees to accommodate the thousands of more credential applicants.
In addition, the RMV expanded its service by extending hours Monday through Friday and offering appointments on Saturdays at many service locations.
To handle the increased demand, additional road test locations were opened in Holyoke, Revere, Cambridge, Franklin, Worcester, and Brockton.
The RMV translated materials into 15 languages besides English, made permit tests available in 35 languages, and provided phone and in-person interpreters in more than 100 languages.
The RMV also worked directly with immigration advocacy groups and non-profit organizations, as well as impacted communities, to coordinate public outreach and solicit feedback on implementation.
“In the year since this law was passed, we have seen the real-life results of years of advocacy and perseverance: Tens of thousands of people who are now able to safely and reliably drive to work, bring their children to school, get to medical appointments on time, support their families and communities, and more,” said Laura Rótolo, ACLU of Massachusetts field director, in a statement.
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