Chief Beck calls for undocumented drivers licenses

California should allow undocumented residents to apply for special drivers licenses, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said in a meeting with LA Times reporters and editors. The current system of withholding licenses from those without legal residency has led to a high numbers of illegal drivers, and nothing has worked to dissuade them, Beck said. "When something doesn't work over and over and over again, my view is that you should reexamine it to see if there is another way that makes more sense," said the chief, coming down on one side of a bitter political divide, even within his department.

From the LAT story:

Beck said he does not believe licenses for illegal immigrants should be identical to standard licenses. Saying "it could be a provisional license, it could be a non-resident license," he acknowledged that state officials would have to find ways to address widely held concerns that giving licenses to people who are in the country illegally could make it easier for terrorists to go undetected.

Such concerns, however, were outweighed for Beck by what he said would be improved safety on California's roads and the ability of police to identify the people they encounter. "Why wouldn't you want to put people through a rigorous testing process? Why wouldn't you want to better identify people who are going to be here?" he said.

Beck, for example, said he expected the number of hit-and-run accidents would decrease if illegal immigrants were licensed, because they would not have to fear being caught without a license at accidents.

Former chief William Bratton had also supported the idea. Beck said he wanted to be a leader in getting the current law changed.