Around the Regions - March 8, 2010

"Around the Regions" is a special Web supplement to AAMVA's weekly e-newsletter, The Week in Review, that features news collected from AAMVA's four regions.
March 8, 2010  This Week's News from:
Region I Region II Region III Region IV Other Items of Interest

Region I 

• Bills Would Increase State's Fuel Taxes (Maryland()
• Senate OK’s Tests for Older Drivers: Bill Also Targets Text Messaging (Massachusetts)
• New Jersey May Ask Police to Link Crashes to Distracted Driving
• New Jersey’s Highway Safety Agency Says Police Have Issued Nearly 10,000 Tickets A Month
• State Police Superintendent Retires Amid Controversy (New York)
• Attorney General Sueing Auto One for Overcharging on DMV Fees (New York)
• Ontario Auto Reforms Highlight Choice, Protection and Costs
• Growing Concern Over Safety of Electronic Billboards in Pennsylvania
• National Guard Deployed to Help Pennsylvania State Police Patrol Roads
• Enforcement of New Age Limits for Farm-Truck Operators not a Top Priority for State, Local Police (Pennsylvania)
• New Site Lets Vanity Plate Applicants Check First (Pennsylvania)
• ICE Agents Take Down an Identity Fraud Ring that Netted More Than $1 Million by Obtaining New York State Driver Licenses Using Stolen Identities

Region II 

• Florida Deadliest State for Walkers, Cyclists
• Real ID a Real Pain (Florida)
• Lawmakers Optimistic Florida Will Pass Texting Ban in 2010
• Higher Taxes Greeting Owners of SUVs, Pickups (Kentucky)
• Discrimination claim over license exams rejected (Oklahoma)
• Adult Driver's Ed Law in Effect Today; First-Time Applicants Ages 18 to 24 are No Longer Exempt from Classroom Training (Texas)
• State Senate moves to stiffen seat belt law (West Virginia)
• West Virginia DMV Seeks to Improve Services for Truckers ; DMV Wants to be More User-Friendly for Truckers

Region III  

• Illinois State Police Cracking Down On Distracted Drivers
• BMV, AAA expand partnership (Indiana)
• Indiana Supreme Court considers voter ID law
• Critics: Texting Ban Has Too Many Loopholes (Iowa)
• Some Bills Won’t Pass Next Hurdle in Iowa
• Lawmakers to Discuss Move to Halt Digital Billboards (Michigan)
• Lawmakers Consider Ignition Interlock for All DWI Offenders (Minnesota)
• Teens caught with drugs can keep license (Nebraska)
• Roads Without the Rage; State Ranks Third-Best in Study on Drivers (North Dakota)
• To Text or Not to Text? Bill Would Ban Texting While Driving (Ohio)
• Public Safety Criticizes Inspector General Over Contractor Report (Ohio)
• Suspension Might Not be Only Choice for Young Drivers with Multiple Violations (Ohio)
• New Motor Vehicle Inspection Law to Take Effect Jan. 1; Vehicles 5 Years Old or Less Will Be Exempt from Inspections (Missouri)
• Colonel Ron Replogle Assumes Command as Patrol Superintendent (Missouri)
• The Missouri State Highway Patrol recently announced the following personnel changes. Effective March 1: David P. Perkins transferred from the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division to the Training Division and serves as director. Lieutenant Malik A. Henderson has been promoted to the rank of captain and designated director of the Motor Vehicle Inspection Division. Captain Luke Vislay has been promoted to the rank of major and designated commander of the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Effective June 1: Major J. Bret Johnson, commander of the Support Services Bureau, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, will transfer to the Field Operations Bureau and be designated commander of that bureau. Captain Dale A. Schmidt, commanding officer of Troop F, will be promoted to major and designated commander of the Support Services Bureau.
• Traffic Deaths in February Tied for Eighth Lowest Since WWII (Wisconsin)

Region IV 

• Hutterites Vow to Reject Licence Photos (Alberta)
• Arizona Senate Shoots Down Bill that Would Have Banned Texting While Driving
• Closing of Rest Stops Stirs Anger in Arizona
• ICBC Thanks Commuters for Drop in Claims During 2010 Winter Games (British Columbia)
• California Judge Rules State Furloughs Illegal, Orders Back Pay (California)
• CHP Cuts Down On 911 Wait Times (California)
• DMV Parking Crackdown, State Officials Move in after NBCLA Investigation (disabled placard story) (California)
• Advocates Concerned That Cyclists Are Included in Distracted Driving Bill (California)
• Legislature Looking to Get Bicycles, Cars to Share the Road Safely (Idaho)
• Bullock Announces Plan to Reduce Drunken Driving (Montana)
• Four Day Workweek Questioned at DMV (Nevada)
• OSP Steps Up Cell Phone-Driving Ban Tickets (Oregon)
• SGI Introduces New AutoPay System (Saskatchewan)
• Legislature: Special License Plates Have Backers, Critics (Utah)
• More Cameras to Capture Red-Light Runners as of Monday (Washington)
• State House Cell Phone Legislation Targets Teen Drivers (Washington)
• Seat Belt Bill Dies (Wyoming)

Other Items of Interest 

• Surprise and Confusion After Puerto Rico Voids Birth Certificates to Combat Identity Theft
• New Survey Shows Increased Use of Twitter, Facebook by State DOTs
• Brake Override Mandate Supported
• Proposed Passport Fee Hikes Draw Ire
• Police Partner with License Plate Readers