CITY, BUSINESS LEADERS BACK LICENSE MEASURE CEDILLO SAYS IMMIGRANT I.D. CARD BILL WILL INCREASE SAFETY.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Los Angeles city officials and business leaders joined forces Friday in backing a proposed law that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain a driver's license, despite criticism that it would legitimize their status.

Mayor James Hahn and City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo joined Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce officials at a news conference to announce support for Senate Bill 60, authored by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles. The Valley Industry and Commerce Association announced its support for the bill on Thursday.

``This is a public safety bill,'' Hahn said. ``It will ensure that every driver has received adequate training and demonstrated sufficient knowledge of driving laws.

``It will also encourage people to get insurance and help police officers in identifying people who are stopped.''

Cedillo said he remains confident this version of the measure, broadened from two earlier proposals he has made, will be signed into law by Gov. Gray Davis. Davis vetoed Cedillo's previous bills.

``I am meeting with the governor in the next few days to discuss this with him and hope we can resolve any differences,'' Cedillo said.

The measure was approved by a Senate committee this week and is scheduled to go to the full Senate soon. If approved, it will go to the Assembly for consideration.

Davis spokesman Russ Lopez said the governor has yet to take a position on the current measure.

``The governor feels there is plenty of room to discuss this,'' Lopez said. ``He vetoed this in the past because he felt the bills were written in such a way that security was at risk,''

Cedillo, however, said the bill would enhance public safety because many motorists drive without a license, and a license is needed to obtain insurance.

``We will have people trained, licensed and fingerprinted so we know who they are,'' Cedillo said. ``That is better than having 2 million people out there without licenses or training or insurance.''

Cedillo's proposal would rescind a decade-old requirement that applicants show a Social Security number to obtain a driver's license. Instead, applicants would sign a statement and provide a tax identification number.

But Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform said the measure goes too far.

``It is granting official recognition to people who are in the country illegally,'' Mehlman said. ``California should not be in the business of providing identification to people who shouldn't be in the country.''

Cedillo said he understands the opposition but believes opponents are ignoring the reality of the state's population.

``Like it or not, we have 2 million immigrants of driving age in this state,'' Cedillo said. ``We want to see them insured, and there is no way they will get insurance without a driver's license.''

Chamber President George Kieffer said his organization decided to back the proposal because of public safety concerns.

``Sen. Cedillo is attempting to bring us back to where we were and help us in training, licensing and fingerprinting drivers,'' Kieffer said.

VICA's board of directors said it was backing the measure because it would reduce costs for the Department of Motor Vehicles as well as the potential of seeing all drivers' insurance rates reduced by increasing the number of insured motorists.