Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich

[Supv. Antonovich] – Los Angeles County Mayor Michael D. Antonovich sharply criticized the $240 million dollar cost to implement AB60, authored by Democratic Assemblyman Luis Alejo of Watsonville and signed by Gov. Brown, to issue 1.4 million California driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants over the next three years.

“Once again, the state has shortchanged the needs of foster children, emancipated foster youth, the mentally ill, and public safety by reallocating funding to a program that provides illegals with driver’s licenses,” said Mayor Antonovich.  “The $240 million dollars should be used to enhance programs that serve the needs of the underserved and underprivileged which have been neglected for years by the state.”

Implementation of this program will require hiring an additional 900 Department of Motor Vehicle employees. The funding for those employees will not come from the State General Fund; rather AB 60 assumes the cost will be covered by the license applications themselves at $32 a license.  However, the DMV is already considering raising the fee for all new drivers’ license from $32 to as $100 to cover the implementation cost of AB 60.

“AB 60 is an irresponsible law which provides another incentive to those who break federal immigration laws.” said Mayor Antonovich. “In Los Angeles County alone, children of illegal immigrants born here are receiving over $640 million a year for welfare and food stamps.  In addition the cost to provide medical services exceeds $500 million.  These costs do not even include those illegal immigrants incarcerated in County jails”.

Extremely long waits for scheduled appointments and walk-in appointments have been reported at most DMV offices. Residents living near DMV offices have reported dangerous conditions associated with parking and long lines on residential streets. The impacts of these lines and crowds have caused exasperation from business leaders as well as residents.