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SB 718

AN ACT PROHIBITING THE ISSUANCE OF A DRIVE-ONLY MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATOR'S LICENSE.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Anne Dauphinais and 3 co-sponsors

Connecticut bill prohibits drive-only motor vehicle licenses, eliminating a permit category used primarily by undocumented immigrants and potentially increasing uninsured drivers.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Transportation
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Bill Summary · SB 718

Legislative bill overview

SB 718 would eliminate Connecticut's "drive-only" motor vehicle operator's license category, which currently allows individuals who cannot obtain a standard license (often due to immigration status or other barriers) to legally drive. The bill would effectively prohibit this license type from being issued going forward.

Why is this important

Connecticut's drive-only license has served as a practical safety measure, allowing unlicensed drivers to register vehicles, maintain insurance, and submit to background checks and testing. Eliminating this option could increase the number of uninsured, unregistered drivers on Connecticut roads, potentially affecting public safety, accident liability, and state revenue from registration fees and insurance premiums.

Potential points of contention

  • Public safety trade-offs: Opponents argue eliminating drive-only licenses will push more unlicensed drivers onto roads without insurance or registration, increasing accident risks. Supporters contend it removes a loophole and enforces licensing standards uniformly.
  • Immigration policy implications: The drive-only license disproportionately serves undocumented immigrants; the bill's purpose appears tied to immigration enforcement rather than traffic safety, raising questions about state-federal authority boundaries.
  • Economic and practical impacts: Loss of registration revenue, increased uninsured motorist claims, and enforcement costs must be weighed against administrative simplification and licensing standardization.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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