Assemblyman tries again on licenses for illegal immigrants

Reporting from Sacramento -- A Los Angeles lawmaker has launched another bid to obtain drivers’ licenses for illegal immigrants.

Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), who has made several past attempts and is serving his final year in the Legislature, said Friday that he was encouraged by comments from Police Chief Charlie Beck and Sheriff Lee Baca in favor of licensing the undocumented.

“As we are now hearing from the police chief and the sheriff, public safety has to be primary, and we have to take politics out of public safety,” Cedillo said. “Unlicensed motorists are more dangerous, and we have an opportunity to make sure every motorist is licensed.’”

Friday was the last day to introduce state legislation this year, and Cedillo put his name on two place-holder measures to address “unlicensed drivers”; they can be filled in later with legislative language.

“My goal is to have this done before I leave office in December,” said Cedillo, who cannot run for reelection because of term limits.

He has tried seven times to make his idea law. Some of those efforts died in the Legislature; others were vetoed. Gov. Jerry Brown has voiced opposition to such licenses.

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