The California Department of Motor Vehicles is preparing to process a million or more new driver license applications over the next year after the passage of a law allowing undocumented immigrants to get licenses.
Jan Mendoza with the DMV said the state might increase staffing, and is in the process of finding places to hold public hearings as regulations for determining identity and residency are developed.
“We’re going to be identifying the documents that are going to be needed for folks that are going to be applying for these licenses," Mendoza said. "Through the regulatory process we’re definitely going to be looking at how there going to be authenticated.”
The new licenses will be familiar but with some subtle changes.
“The driver license will basically be the same. There will be an identifying mark, I believe 'DP', somewhere on the driver’s license,” Mendoza explained.
"DP" will stand for “driving privilege” instead of the standard "DL" for “driving license.” Licenses with a DP will not be valid ID for anything but driving. The new law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2015.
