Representatives of La Voz Unida rejoice after the Plymouth Common Council approves Resolution No. 2022-1029, A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Plymouth Endorsing the Passage of Indiana Legislation Establishing Driver Cards for Undocumented Indiana Residents.
Article submitted by Jamie Fleury, The Pilot News Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — During the last meeting of 2022, the Plymouth Common Council approved Resolution No. 2022-1029, A Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Plymouth Endorsing the Passage of Indiana Legislation Establishing Driver Cards for Undocumented Indiana Residents. There was standing room only during the meeting Tuesday, December 27 as representatives of La Voz Unida and supporters filled the council room.
City of Plymouth Attorney Sean Surrisi drafted the resolution after reviewing resolutions passed by other communities. According to Surrisi 18 states and the District of Columbia have some version of this type of legislation.
Councilman Robert Listenberger made a motion to approve, Councilwoman Shiloh Carothers Milner seconded the motion.
Driving Record Cards have been discussed by Indiana lawmakers for months and will be up for possible legislation in the coming year.
The bill, if approved, would provide that an individual who is an Indiana resident and cannot provide proof of identity and lawful status in the United States may apply for a Driving Record Card Learner’s Permit and Driving Record Card to obtain driving privileges.
Those individuals would have to be a resident of the State of Indiana for at least a year and provide proof of paying taxes with a Tax Identification Number.
The bill, if passed, would ensure that all Indiana drivers are trained, certified, insured, and identifiable.
Norma Rodriguez shared that Plymouth would be the 8th Community to support the initiative including but not limited to South Bend, Elkhart, Goshen and Indianapolis. She emphasized that while there are a few driving without a license for a number of reasons; most residents are obtaining rides with other individuals who do have a license. “Here in town we don’t have public transportation. So you see a lot of individuals walking or riding a bike. During times like this it’s very, very tough on them.”
For those who get stopped who are driving without a license; the costs of that interaction to their livelihood are high.
Filipe Merino of Merino Law Firm, P.C. noted that for everyone to have the driving card will only enhance safety to the community including the ability for card holders to obtain insurance.
Rodriguez informed the council that the language of the bipartisan bill is still being perfected. The council approved the resolution.
Representatives across Marshall County have expressed support for the initiative including Father Daniel Niezer of St. Isidore in Bremen, who was present at the informational meeting held earlier in December.
Father Niezer had shared in an email follow-up to that informational meeting, “I am grateful for this initiative of La Voz Unida to bring awareness to the needs of our immigrant brothers and sisters. Here in Bremen, we are blessed to have a vibrant Hispanic community, a community which simply seeks to thrive in their families and to live a normal life. While understanding that our citizenship processes are often lengthy and burdensome, drivers cards will allow these families to work and travel safely, thus benefiting our entire community as well. It has been my understanding that this initiative comes with bipartisan support, as well as general support from our Catholic Church around the nation, so I hope that these initiatives will effect positive changes for our communities. As a pastor, I simply pray that we may love and respect one another in the same manner that Christ loves us: unconditionally and with great sacrifice.”
Follow the organization on Facebook @ La Voz Unida for continued updates. More information can be found on HB 1195 online at iga.in.gov.
