NORTHAMPTON — Residents living in the hilltowns and other area communities with limited access to public transportation depend on driving themselves to their jobs, to the supermarket and to medical appointments.
But undocumented immigrants, especially those making their home in rural towns, face a daily risk to their livelihood should they be pulled over by police and be arrested or brought to court because they are not licensed, and then have their vehicle towed, too.
“That’s an experience for undocumented workers every single day,” said Javier Luengo, an organizing strategist for the American Civil Liberties Union.
Luengo, who is also the deputy field director for “Yes on 4,” was among those attending a press conference on the steps of Northampton City Hall on Tuesday afternoon, where local and regional law enforcement and public safety representatives endorsed preserving the Work and Mobility Act adopted by the Legislature earlier this year.
He explained that the burden of getting around is already immense for many of those who don’t live in places with good public transportation, and not being licensed only makes matters worse.
But keeping the law intact will depend on approval by Massachusetts voters at the Nov. 8 state election. It will be Question 4 on all ballots in the state, with a “yes” vote upholding the measure, and a “no” vote rescinding it, meaning that undocumented individuals will not be able to get driver’s licenses.
In a community with 18,000 residents, South Hadley Police Chief Jennifer Gundersen said she is aware that there are undocumented people who live and work in town, and whose children are educated in the schools. They are no less members of the community than anyone else, she said.
“It seems our time and money is not well spent when we come upon unlicensed immigrant community members who want to be licensed,” Gundersen said. “I know that most motorists want to be properly trained, properly licensed and properly insured.”
Tuesday’s event was organized by Service Employees International Union 32BJ.
Franklin Soults, a spokesman for SEIU, said most members of the unit are immigrants. The legislation also has support of SEIU 1199 heath care providers, another unit that is made up of many immigrants.
“We feel a duty to represent members in this way,” Soults said.
Fair and Secure Massachusetts, the group organizing opposition to the legislation, has argued that all residents should have to follow existing rules, and that people who are in the United States illegally are already violating the law. Also, offering people standard licenses might be a backdoor way for them to become eligible to vote in local, state and federal elections.
Both Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan and Hampshire County Sheriff Patrick Cahillane are endorsing the legislation.
Sullivan said it is important to have drivers who are trained, educated and licensed. Based on the experience in 16 other states and the District of Columbia, roads are improved because there are fewer uninsured drivers, and the fear of being stopped by law enforcement and having to go to court is removed.
“This legislation is critical to roadways and safe driving,” Sullivan said.
One of the key ideas is that if there is a crash, a licensed and insured driver will stay, rather than taking off.
“We really need to preserve it — a ‘yes’ on Question 4 is essential,” Sullivan said.
The possibility of a driver leaving the scene of a property damage or personal injury accident was referenced by Hadley Police Chief Michael Mason, who reflected on the hit-and-run crash a week earlier on Route 9 that seriously injured a Hopkins Academy student. While the driver remains unknown and is not identified, Mason said it’s possible it was someone without a license.
“We look at this as a probable safety issue, a positive measure to hopefully reduce the number of crashes,” said Mason, who is also president of the Western Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association.
Cahillane said the legislation should not be viewed as an immigration bill, but as a mechanism for keeping roads safer.
“The law will unequivocally improve public safety here in western Massachusetts and here in Hampshire County,” Cahillane said, adding that it will allow undocumented residents get to work and be part of a productive society.
Cahillane said besides the drop in significant accidents, hit-and-runs and uninsured motorists, there should be an economic benefit, as those individuals pay to be insured.
Other area police chiefs attending the event included Amherst Police Chief Scott Livingstone, Greenfield Police Chief Robert Haigh Jr. and Leverett and Wendell Police Chief Scott Minckler.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.