Amended driver privilege card passes Senate

The sponsor of a bill aimed at tightening up undocumented immigrants' driving privilege cards predicts the House will readily accept a Senate amendment that adds another restrictions.

HB171 would clarify that driving privilege cards can't be used for age verification for purposes such as buying beer or guns. It also would provide for the suspension of cards of uninsured drivers.

The Senate approved the bill in a 26-0 vote, after adding an amendment that would prevent issuing temporary driving privilege cards to applicants. That means people would have to wait for their cards to arrive in the mail to drive legally.

The House must now approve the change, which sponsor Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, says "goes to the heart of my bill. If you don't have a driving privilege card you shouldn't be driving, and temporary cards don't count."

Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, said the reason for the change is to prevent people from "driving with little slips of paper," even if a permanent card is never issued, or if the person gave a phony address.

However, Sen. Ross Romero, D-Salt Lake, questioned whether a person would be notified if for some reason the card wasn't issued.

However, Senate Majority Leader Curt Bramble, R-Provo, said it was never intended for the cards to be issued over the counter.