Florida Bill Cracks Down on Driving Without a License

TALLAHASSEE, FL — A new Florida bill would strengthen the penalties for driving without a valid license, making third-time offenders liable for a stint in jail. Though the bill passed the committee unanimously, concerns were raised over the impact on immigrant drivers.

SB 1324, sponsored by Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, creates a three-level process for individuals driving without a license. First-time offenders are hit with a second-degree misdemeanor, second-time offenders with a first-degree misdemeanor, and third-time offenders with a first-degree misdemeanor and a minimum of 10 days in jail.

In public testimony, a Florida Policy Associate for the non-profit SPLC Action Fund spoke against the bill, anxious that the bill would be used to target immigrants without licenses on the roads.

"Some immigrants in Florida for whatever reason may lack the required identification to apply for a driver's license, like a social security number or legal documentation for residency purposes," The Associate said in Tuesday's Senate Committee on Transportation, stating that Florida prevents immigrants from obtaining licenses and that this bill would disproportionately target them.

"Please allow all age-eligible residents of Florida to apply for a driver's license and maybe we can review the laws about how much trouble a person can get into for driving without one," She added.

Republican Sen. Ed Hooper disagreed, pointing out that the bill's sole focus is increasing penalties for illegal action on the road. "The bill as I read it simply says it revises the penalties for driving without a valid driver's license. It doesn't matter which country, which state [you're from], if you have a license you're not impacted."

The measure, which has a companion House bill, will head to the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice.