Keep driving privilege cards

There may be need to tighten up Utah's law on driving privilege cards. But let's rein in the movement to repeal the law, which created a driving privilege for undocumented immigrants instead of granting them a full-blown driver's license.

The state has a profound public safety interest in keeping the 2005 law on the books. A 2006 audit confirms its effectiveness. Among 2,500 people with driving privilege cards, 75 percent had automobile insurance. Among another 2,500 licensed drivers, 81 percent were insured.

It makes no sense to repeal a law that ensures people who drive on Utah's roadways, regardless of immigration status, are proficient drivers and have knowledge of Utah's laws, let alone have auto insurance.

Some lawmakers want to further tweak the law over concerns that privilege card holders are reportedly using the card as identification to purchase alcohol. The driving privilege card itself states "FOR DRIVING PRIVILEGES ONLY — NOT VALID FOR IDENTIFICATION."

Anyone who sells alcohol or firearms to someone who displays a driving privilege card as their identification does so at risk of criminal prosecution and civil liability. Under Utah Code, the card is not considered valid identification. Seemingly, these sorts of problems could be rectified through educational outreach by the state Division of Motor Vehicles. Government entities such as the Division of Alcohol Beverage Control cannot accept the driving privilege card as proof of personal identification.

The card cannot be used as identification for federal purposes such as boarding an airplane, buying a firearm or entering a restricted area or facility. State law cannot affect these issues. They are federal matters, and any instance of the driving privilege card being used in this manner should be reported to federal authorities.

Again, there would seem to be no harm in adding language to the state code if it helps to ensure the driving privilege card is used solely for driving. But Utah's public safety needs should trump any urge to repeal this law.