The biggest problem with the law, and probably the reason it was repealed, has to do with the other priveledges a driver's license bestows on the individual - most notably, implied citizenship and, even more importantly, the ID necessary to legally acquire firearms in this country. As stupid as that sounds, I recall those as being the primary arguments against the law when it was passed earlier this Fall. Additionally, possessing a DL, at least in California, requires a SSN - which illegal immigrants don't have (typically); as soon as they get an SSN, they're closer to citizenship than ever before. Opponents to imigration see the DL issue as one that facilitates "already lax" immigration procedures.

I think that your thought for an international DL is a good one; however, it would require a standardization of road-signage, an agreement of which side of the road drivers use, and other logistical issues.

Regardless, this is a point of contention that will be raised again in California so long as there are politicians who court the issue.

International driver's licenses already exist, despite the differing road rules between countries. They're generally applied for through embassies, and must accompany a real driver's license from your home country. So they're a viable option right now.

Thanks for the further info on the political landscape for this law.

Quick addition to my earlier comment: I don't want to give the impression that I'm anti-immigration. At the same time, I was opposed to the law when it passed (as I was a CA resident at that time). Go international DLs!

I have never really been able to decide one way or another if I thought this was a good idea. On one hand you have the points that Brandon mentioned. On the other, I know I would feel better on the roads knowing that a larger percentage of the drivers have proven that they have at least some knowledge of the road rules and have had their eyesight checked.

I'm guessing that if someone is already in the country illegally, he/she isn't really going to care about staying off the roads due to lack of having a license. At least this way that somebody might have a bit better idea of what he/she should be doing on the road.

I bet it would be difficult to get car insurance as an illegal. No?

Well, it seems like it shouldn't be. After all, illegal immigrants can rent apartments, buy cars, do other things along those lines...I suppose they pay cash for those things, but they could pay cash for their insurance, too. An insurance company could probably structure a policy for illegal immigrants without much difficulty, I imagine. Or Mexican insurance companies (surely some exist) could cover Mexican drivers in the US.

I really have no idea whether this would work at all, but it seems like maybe there are other ways around the problem besides the law that was repealed.

[Schwarzenegger, no t.]

Whoops, fixed.