The Green Light Law was enacted last night, but undocumented immigrants will have to wait a while before they can apply for driver’s licenses. According to the language of the bill, “This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 31 it shall have become a law,” in other words it will go into effect in six months in December of this year. This will allow the commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to develop implementing regulations and train staff.
In the meantime, immigrants who want to apply for the new licenses should obtain proof of age and identity. According to the Act “acceptable proof of identity shall also include, but not be limited to, a valid, unexpired foreign passport issued by the applicant’s country of citizenship (which shall also be eligible as proof of age), a valid, unexpired consular identification document issued by a consulate from the applicant’s country of citizenship, or a valid foreign driver’s license that includes a photo image of the applicant and which is unexpired or expired for less than twenty-four months of its date of expiration,” in addition to the proof currently accepted by DMV.
