Legislator seeks to close driver's license loophole

A bill before the state House of Representatives would close a loophole that keeps legal immigrants who aren't eligible to work from obtaining Utah drivers' licenses.

Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, said his HB223 would allow people such as foreign military personnel or students and their families to obtain a driver's license while they're here.

It won't, he said, impact undocumented workers' ability to obtain a driver's license.

"I'm not attacking anyone," Oda said. "This particular bill simply allows those immigrants who are here legally to get their driver's license without getting a Social Security number."

In addition to proof of identification, a Utah driver's license applicant must provide either a Social Security number or an I-10 number, which is issued by the Internal Revenue Service to immigrants working here without questioning their legal status.

Oda's bill would also allow an applicant to get a driver's license with proof of citizenship of another country and proof of legal presence in the United States.