Question:
Posted November 14, 2008
I would like to know if AAMVA will "encourage" states to get uniform in the way they handle motorcycle endorsements - including a standard endorsement/restriction code and a difference between 3-wheel cycles and 2 wheel cycles. For future planning, we need to start thinking about some "uniform standards".
Carla D.
Motor Vehicle Manager
Answer:
Hi Carla,
Thanks for writing. Currently, AAMVA is a part of a motorcycle technical working group sponsored by NHTSA and headed by Highway Safety Services, LLC and Windwalker Corp. The task is to develop a standard for entry level motorcycle riders. The standard would include rider education, licensing and enforcement components.
But standards by their very nature are voluntary. However, they do set minimum baseline requirements that encourage uniformity.
The aforementioned work will be an important part of AAMVA's motorcycle efforts in the future. We will promote the use of the standard once it is complete which will in turn help with uniformity issues among jurisdictions.
This type of effort is very similar to many other types of projects over the years that we as an organization have been involved in. It also illustrates the value of our relationships with our federal partners and the other safety stakeholder groups that we work with.
Regards,
Neil Schuster
AAMVA President and CEO
Question:
Posted October 24, 2008
I am responsible for "all" the legal paper work relevant for the sell of the vehicles we deem a total loss. I have questions on the electric title and the method used to release a title once an insurance co.pays off on a total loss, my motive for asking is one of expediting the release of the title, to sell the salv.
Robert C.
Title Coordinator
Answer:
There are currently 13 states (AZ, CA, FL, GA, HI, ID, MA, NY, PA, OH, SC, VA, and WA) that have an electronic process (generally called ELT) for recording and discharging liens. In those jurisdictions, when a lien is recorded against a vehicle with the DMV, the DMV sends an electronic notice (rather than a certificate of title) to the lender. When the lien has been satisfied, the lender sends an electronic notice to the DMV, indicating their lien has been satisfied. The DMV then issues a paper title to the vehicle owner. It is important to note that in the 13 ELT jurisdictions, most do not mandate that lenders participate, so they also issue paper titles for those lenders that do not participate in ELT.
The time delay in getting a certificate of title once a lien payoff has been made comes from three different factors. First, the time it takes the lender to receive, process, and accept the payoff. Second, the time it takes for the lender to discharge their lien (on a paper title) or send the electronic lien satisfaction notice to the DMV. Finally, the time delay it takes for the DMV to process the lien discharge and issue a new title.
Although the time period varies from state to state, most states have some type of maximum timeframe in which the lender must release their title once final payment has been made. However, it is difficult to enforce these requirements, particularly if the lender is outside the state in which the vehicle is titled.
In some of the ELT states, there is an electronic (nonhuman) transaction that generates a paper title once a electronic lien discharge notification is received. However, in some ELT states, there is still a human intervention before the title can be issued. Given that many states have a workload backlog, the time to issue the new title can be several weeks in some cases.
In non-ELT states, the lender may be able to send the released title directly to the owner, insurance company, or salvage buyer. However, some states require the lender to obtain a new, non-lien title on behalf of the vehicle owner before it can be sent to the owner.
Regards,
Neil Schuster
AAMVA President and CEO
Question:
Posted September 10, 2008
Following AAMVA's restructuring, a few people have inquired about AAMVA's future involvement in law enforcement.
Answer:
Taking a look at our budget, the AAMVA Board recently adopted a number of program cuts in a variety of areas. The Board was guided by a focus on what AAMVA activities have direct value to members.
Although you do not see law enforcement in the high-level organization chart, law enforcement remains an AAMVA priority. Law enforcement (along with vehicle activities, driver's license programs, REAL ID and a number of other important projects) is located in the Programs and Member Services Department, which Mike Calvin heads. Mike has been with AAMVA for about 24 years, and has been involved in many of our program areas over the years, including law enforcement.
The AAMVA Board did reduce the staff level support for law enforcement to about two-thirds of the previous level. But the AAMVA Board also added law enforcement resources in other important areas. In total, we have reenergized our law enforcement activities, although with a slightly different focus.
The Board added a permanent Board seat for the law enforcement community, which we plan to fill by appointment in the next few weeks. This will ensure that law enforcement always has a seat at the AAMVA Board, and will strengthen our outreach to law enforcement agencies and associations.
We also reached two other decisions that will benefit law enforcement. First, we developed a model to offer the content of our Fraudulent Document Recognition training program free to jurisdictions. This will allow state motor vehicle and law enforcement agencies the opportunity to deliver that training to a larger number of AAMVA members, including state law enforcement agencies who are members of the Association.
Last year we cut support for our committee work by 50 percent, to achieve a balanced budget at the beginning of 2008. One of our priorities was to find resources to raise committee support funding in 2009, and we were able to double that investment, to bring committee support back to the $200,000 level for the year. This will allow our committees to engage in a variety of new projects, and of course our law enforcement members will have the opportunity to propose committee projects for direct AAMVA funding.
I hope this puts our law enforcement activities in better perspective and shows that we have no intention of abandoning the law enforcement community.
Regards,
Neil Schuster
AAMVA President and CEO
Question:
Posted August 18, 2008
Neil -- I had assumed all AAMVA Yahoo groups were open to the entire community. I was recently turned down by one; they said the group members wanted jurisdictional people only. So apparently not yours or a Board decision.
Is this correct? This was a Yahoo group that needs more support and member participation, in my view.
Thanks
Jerry
Answer:
Jerry,
Thanks for the message to "Ask Neil" and for raising an important issue.
Some disciplines have chosen to open their yahoo group forums to those other than jurisdictional members, while others have not. We are always looking to find the right balance in this area - providing as much information as possible to all of our members, but also providing ways for jurisdiction members to discuss issues which may be sensitive in nature and are best facilitated in a jurisdiction-only environment.
We continually review the balance between open and closed communications channels, and we ensure the Board hears feedback we receive on what should be the proper mix.
Regards,
Neil Schuster
AAMVA President and CEO