More than half of new California licenses went to undocumented drivers in first half of 2015

SAN FRANCISCO – After a new law went into effect in January, more than half of all new driver’s licenses issued in California this year have gone to people who are in the country illegally, the state said Friday.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles reported it has issued roughly 397,000 licenses to people who live in the country illegally. A total of 759,000 licenses were issued in the first six months of the year.

The DMV issued 435,000 licenses in the first six months of 2014.

The new law initially generated huge interest, with long lines at DMV offices in January and February. The DMV expects to see about a million more applicants who are covered under the new law over the next three years.

“We hope that all of those people will be able to pass the testing and have the necessary documents to obtain” a license, said DMV spokeswoman Jessica Gonzalez.

Supporters of the law say giving licenses to people regardless of their immigration status makes the roads safer for everyone. New drivers say having a license means they can travel more freely for work or pleasure. Some people had been driving without a license.

Opponents say people who are in the country illegally should not be rewarded.

About 687,000 people have applied for the licenses issued to illegal immigrants. Applicants must pass driving tests and show proof of residency and identity.

The new license is marked differently than those issued to other drivers in the state and is not considered a valid form of federal identification, for example, to board an airplane.

More than 1.1 million people who qualify for the new licenses took the written driver’s test between Jan. 2 and June 30, and 436,000 have also taken a behind-the-wheel driving test.