Gov. Pat Quinn signed the measure into law in a ceremony Sunday in Chicago, surrounded by politicians and in a room filled with supporters of the measure.
The licenses will be Temporary Visitor Driver’s Licenses, similar to those issued to workers here on a temporary visa, or their spouses. They’ll be good for three years. They’ll be issued starting in October.
Illinois will be the fourth state to allow this, behind New Mexico, Utah and Washington.
An estimated 250,000 illegal immigrants are driving in Illinois now. The secretary of state’s office isn’t sure how many will come into compliance under this law, but they guess around 40 percent.
Applicants will have to qualify for the licenses the same way as anybody else, by passing a written test, road test and vision test, and paying a fee. Also, the license will be considered invalid if the holder is driving without insurance.
(Posted 1-28-2013 at 9:42am, Illinois Radio Network)