The bill adds California to the growing list of states allowing immigrants... (Associated Press) 
 
 In this photo provided by the City of Los Angeles, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a landmark law Thursday granting driver's licenses to people who are in the country illegally, hailing the measure as an important expansion of immigrant rights and one that should serve as an example to other states. On the steps of City Hall, scores of immigrant rights activists chanted "champion" in Spanish at the mention of his name. When a million people without their documents drive legally with respect to the state of California, the rest of this country will have to stand up and take notice," Brown said outside Los Angeles City Hall, with Archbishop Jose Gomez and other dignitaries in attendance. "No longer are undocumented people in the shadows." Immigrant rights advocates predict that most people who are driving without licenses will come forward and apply. State officials estimate that once guidelines are in place, processing the flood of applications will cost $140 million to $220 million in the first three years. California on Thursday joined the growing list of states that allow immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally to obtain driver's licenses _ a measure supported not only by Latino activists but by police chiefs and insurance authorities. Jerry Brown signs a bill, Thursday Oct. 3, 2013 in Los Angeles, adding California to the growing list of states allowing immigrants living... (Associated Press) 
 
 From left to right, Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Salinas, state Sen. Kevin DeLeon, D-Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Councilman, Gov. "Those distinctions mean little to hard-working people who simply want to drive to work or drive their kids to school or soccer practice without fear," he said.
– California has joined the ranks of states that allow illegal immigrants to legally drive. "When a million people without their documents drive legally with respect to the state of California, the rest of this country will have to stand up and take notice," said Gov. Jerry Brown at yesterday's signing, reports the Los Angeles Times. Some 1.4 million immigrants are likely to apply within three years; the state may set up six temporary issuing offices. The law suggests calling the documents "driving privileges" rather than "driver's licenses," but discrimination over the distinction is banned, the AP notes. The bill was backed by police because drivers "will be more likely to have been tested, to have insurance, or to know the rules of the road," says LAPD chief Charlie Beck. But a note of caution comes from New Mexico, one of 10 states that already issues such licenses. "It's been a disaster," says the state's secretary for taxation and revenue. "We have had a lot of identity fraud."