Inside This Issue...

As part of its continuing efforts to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses, FMCSA is currently working with AAMVA to reduce fraud through the use of the Commercial Skills Test Information Management System (CSTIMS). This Internet-based tool provides a consistent way to track the scheduling and entry of test results for commercial skills tests by jurisdiction and third party examiners. CSTIMS enforces jurisdiction-defined rules to manage CDL skills testing and will alert various parties when circumstances are encountered that may require investigation to determine if fraud may have occurred. Additionally, CSTIMS produces reports that can be reviewed for patterns of potential fraud. AAMVA trained the four pilot jurisdictions (Alaska, Arizona, New Mexico, and South Dakota) in February and March. The pilot began March 2, 2006, and is scheduled to run through the end of July. Jurisdictions with questions about CSTIMS should contact AAMVA’s Systems Analysis Department: Walt Jackson at wjackson@aamva.org or (703) 908-2828, and Greg Sensiba at gsensiba@aamva.org or (703) 908-2822.

If you haven't already done so, please respond to the following surveys. Please contact Member and Conference Services if you need a user ID and password.

• California - Driver License Automated Knowledge Testing System  (Ends 4/5/06)
• Utah - Senior Driver Reviews  (Ends 4/15/06)
• Ohio - Co-signers  (Ends 4/7/06)
• West Virginia - Title Notary Requirements  (Ends 5/1/06)
• Virginia - Privatization of Road Tests  (Ends 4/10/06)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to make minor amendments to the existing Tier 2 motor vehicle emission regulations. The amendments will help provide interim compliance flexibilities for clean diesels in the passenger car market. They will provide two voluntary, interim alternative compliance options for a very limited set of standards for oxides of nitrogen, including only high altitude and high speed/acceleration conditions. The options would last for three model years. If EPA does not receive a request for a public hearing, written comments are due May 1, 2006. Requests for a public hearing must be received by April 14, 2006. If EPA does receive a request for a public hearing, it would be held on May 1, 2006, starting at 10 am. In that case, the public comment period would close on June 28, 2006. Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0160, online at http://www.regulations.gov.

Musicians, Olympians and artists will join members of Congress on April 5 to highlight efforts against drunk driving. This is the second annual event to honor, unify and energize those involved in the fight against drunk driving. Impaired driving kills more than 17,000 people in the United States each year. The event uses the arts to build a bridge from Capitol Hill to local communities by synergizing the collective missions of those working to reduce impaired driving. It coincides with Alcohol Awareness Month, which was started in 1987 as a national campaign to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues, including drunk driving. The event takes place on Wednesday, April 5 from 6 to 8 pm in the Cannon Caucus Room, 345 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515. For more information, contact Cathy Gillen at (410) 547-1602.

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (IRTPA) requires that the definition of the SSOLV reply codes be changed. Specifically, the codes 1 and 6 are being changed. Reply code 1 will indicate that the SSN information you sent to SSA matched the records and there was no indication of death present. Reply code 6 will indicate that the SSN information you sent to SSA matched the records, but there is an indication of death present. SSA receives reports of death from multiple sources, so they cannot always verify the source of the death report or the report itself. Therefore, further action is needed by the jurisdiction to verify identity as the individual to whom that SSN was assigned may be deceased. Further, the current check against SSA's Celebrity File will also be eliminated. These inquiries will be treated the same as any other. These changes do not require any testing from the jurisdiction's side, since the codes are being changed to reflect what the jurisdictions have assumed all along. These changes will be effective in production starting April 1, 2006.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has approved legislation (H.R. 4127) that incorporates bipartisan changes to the version approved by the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection in November. Approved by a vote of 41-0, the bill includes a manager's amendment that lowers the threshold that would trigger required consumer notification from “significant risk of identity theft” to “reasonable risk of identity theft to the individual to whom the personal information relates, fraud or other unlawful conduct.” It would also require data brokers to verify the accuracy of information they sell.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) has released a report that analyzes all fatal crashes involving 15- to 17-year-old drivers of passenger vehicles from 1995 through 2004. The report shows that crashes involving these drivers resulted in 30,917 deaths. Of these, the majority were people other than the teen drivers, including 9,847 of their passengers, 7,477 occupants of vehicles operated by drivers 18 years of age or older, and 2,323 non-motorists. The report provides detailed state-by-state data designed for use by local AAA clubs and state legislators. To view the report, see AAA's Web site.

The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will permit truck carriers who are not Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Truck Carrier Accounts to use third parties to transmit truck manifest information on their behalf electronically in the ACE Truck Manifest system. Those carriers electing to use a third party must possess a valid Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC) from the National Motor Freight Traffic Association. Truck carriers will be able to participate in ACE through the use of a third party transmitter beginning on March 29, 2006. For more information, contact James Swanson at james.d.swanson@dhs.gov.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has forwarded an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget for review and comment. The request is for an extension of a currently approved collection regarding Title 23 of the U.S. Code, which established a federal alcohol incentive grant program designed to encourage states to enact strong, effective anti-drunk driving legislation and improve the enforcement of these laws. Comments must be submitted on or before May 1, 2006. Send comments, within 30 days, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725-17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, Attention NHTSA Desk Officer. For more information, contact Carman Hayes NHTSA, Office of Injury Control Operations & Resources (NTI-200), at (202) 366-2685.

As jurisdictions proceed with MCSIA implementation, some have expressed an interest in various training related to the driver licensing process. AAMVA published a survey to help (1) identify any training needs in the jurisdictions and (2) identify areas where AAMVA may be able to assist its members in meeting those needs. The initial request was for responses by Friday, March 31, 2006. This has been extended to Friday, April 7, 2006. Jurisdiction input is critical so that AAMVA can finalize the desired topics and develop a plan to provide the requested training. The survey can be accessed at AAMVA's Web site. If you have any questions, contact Sheila McGrath at (703) 908-2940 or smcgrath@aamva.org.