Attorney
General Kamala D. Harris Issues Consumer Alert on Driver License Scams
Targeting Immigrants
Thursday, December 4,
2014
Contact: (415)
703-5837
SAN
FRANCISCO – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today issued a consumer
alert to Californians about possible scams targeting immigrants and their
families.
Under
a new California law, Assembly Bill 60 (AB 60), California residents will be
eligible to get a driver license regardless of their immigration status.
This law takes effect on January 1, 2015. In preparation for AB 60, the
Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has hired additional employees, held
department-wide training, and is opening new, temporary offices to handle extra
driver license appointments.
Individuals
applying for a driver license under AB 60 must show satisfactory proof of
identity, proof of California residency, and meet all other qualifications for
getting a driver license, including passing a knowledge test, vision test, and
behind-the-wheel driving test, which will be taken after getting a temporary
driver permit.
When
major changes to laws affecting immigrants are passed, con artists often emerge
to prey on vulnerable consumers. This consumer alert will give you tips
on how to avoid and report driver license scams.
Do not pay anyone to complete your driver license application:
The
Attorney General recommends that you complete your driver license application
alone or with the help of trusted family or friends. The process is
simple and the DMV provides free resources to guide you. You should not
pay anyone to help you complete driver license documents!
Beginning
January 1, 2015, it will be illegal for anyone to accept money solely for
completing a driver license application for another person. Be wary of
anyone who says they have “connections” with the DMV. They are likely
lying; no one can speed up the process of getting a driver license for
you!
Driver
license examinations are available in many languages and can be given orally by
a DMV employee on request. If you need an interpreter, call
1-800-777-0133 and indicate that foreign language assistance is needed.
Do not pay anyone who offers to translate documents for you; the DMV
offers free translation services!
The
cost for completing the application for a Class C (most cars) or Class M
(motorcycles and scooters) license is $33. A driver license under AB 60
is the same price as other licenses. Only pay this fee to the DMV
directly; any payment to someone else is likely a scam.
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
To
learn more about getting your driver license, visit http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/ab60/
(English) or https://apps.dmv.ca.gov/ab60/index_es.html
(Español).
For
a list of accepted proofs of identify, visit https://apps.dmv.ca.gov/ab60/doc_req_matrix.pdf (English) or http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/ab60/docreqmatrix_span.pdf
(Español).
For
a sample driver license application, visit: https://apps.dmv.ca.gov/teenweb/permit_btn1/dl44sample.pdf.
However, your application (Form DL 44) must be completed at the DMV.
California
Driver Handbooks and sample driver license examinations are available in
English, Spanish, Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Punjabi, Russian
Tagalog, and Vietnamese. For a copy of the California Driver Handbook and
sample driver license examinations in any of these languages, visit: http://apps.dmv.ca.gov/ab60/#handbooks.
To
schedule a visit to the DMV, visit https://www.dmv.ca.gov/foa/clear.do?goTo=officeVisit.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF A SCAM:
The
California Department of Justice, in its role as the state’s enforcer of
consumer protection, collects complaints on scams in order to detect patterns of
wrongdoing. By submitting a complaint, you are contributing to California’s
ability to investigate and prosecute known offenders and stop scammers from
victimizing others. To file a complaint with our office, use one of the
following complaint forms:
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