Inside This Issue...

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a rule to require auto manufacturers to install electronic stability control (ESC) as a standard feature on all new passenger vehicles. The rule would require all manufacturers to begin equipping passenger vehicles under 10,000 pounds with ESC starting with the 2009 model year and to have the feature available as standard equipment on all vehicles by the 2012 model year (September 2011). ESC systems use automatic computer-controlled braking of individual wheels to help the driver maintain control in situations where a vehicle would otherwise skid out of control and likely leave the road. A 2004 study by NHTSA estimated that ESC reduced fatalities in single-vehicle crashes by 30 percent for passenger cars and 63 percent for SUVs. The agency estimates that ESC will save between 5,300 and 10,300 lives annually and prevent between 168,000 and 252,000 injuries. The average cost is estimated to be $111 per vehicle on vehicles that already include ABS brakes. Since 2004, NHTSA has urged manufacturers to voluntarily add ESC as standard equipment on vehicles. NHTSA is asking for comments on the ESC proposal for the next 60 days. A copy of the proposed regulation and the accompanying regulatory analysis is available at safercar.gov.

On Sept. 12, 2006, Senators Pryor and Talent filed a bipartisan amendment (Senate amendment 4959) to the port security bill (HR 4954), currently being debated on the Senate floor, that places a focus on trucking security. Since the trucking industry is responsible for the transportation of 70 percent of our nation’s cargo, the amendment is designed to ensure that Commercial Driver's License (CDL) holders are U.S. citizens (by verifying Social Security Numbers) and obtain a CDL legally. The amendment also ensures law enforcement has the ability to determine that foreign trucks are operating consistent with the authority imposed by current U.S. trucking regulations. The legislation has the support of the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the American Trucking Associations (ATA), and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA).

A provision of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users requires new passenger vehicles to be labeled with safety rating information published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under its New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). NHTSA is required to issue regulations to ensure that the labeling requirements “are implemented by Sept. 1, 2007.” NHTSA has issued a final rule, effective Nov. 13, 2006, to fulfill that mandate. This final rule applies to covered vehicles manufactured on or after Sept. 1, 2007. Optional early compliance by vehicle manufacturers is permitted before that date. Petitions for reconsideration of this final rule must be received no later than Oct. 27, 2006. Petitions must refer to docket number NHTSA-2006-25772 and be submitted to: Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590. In addition, a copy of the petition should be submitted to: Docket Management, Room PL-401, 400 Seventh St., SW., Washington, DC 20590.

When the president signed the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (H.R. 4472 - PL 109-248) into law on July 27, it included provisions requiring the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the feasibility of using driver’s license registration processes as additional registration requirements for sex offenders. The study requires surveying the states to assess the capabilities to comply with a federal law that required all state driver's license systems to automatically access state and national databases of registered sex offenders. The GAO will study the potential costs to the states if such a federal law came into effect and what level of federal grants would be required to prevent an unfunded mandate. The language came from an amendment introduced by Rep. Jim Gibbons (R-NV) and provisions are based on a Nevada law that requires the DMV to issues driver's licenses to registered sex offenders for a one-year period. The GAO will also evaluate if the provisions are effective in increasing the registration compliance rate of sex offenders, the aggregate direct and indirect costs to bring those provisions into effect; and how those provisions might be modified to improve compliance by registered sex offenders. The GAO is meeting with AAMVA on Sept. 20.

On Sept. 11, 2006, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee amended a concurrent resolution (S Con Res 71) expressing the sense of Congress that states should require candidates for driver's licenses to demonstrate an ability to exercise increased caution when driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual. Originally introduced in December 2005, the legislation has now been placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar.

Bill Graves, president and CEO of the American Trucking Associations, has named Warren E. Hoemann as a senior vice president to oversee the organization’s seven councils and conferences. Hoemann most recently served as deputy administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration under Annette Sandberg. Prior, he served as vice president of the California Trucking Association, an ATA state affiliate. Hoemann will assume his ATA post on Sept. 18, 2006. For more information, visit Truckline.com.

If you haven’t already done so, please respond to the following surveys.

• West Virginia - DUI Hearings (Ends 10/02/2006)
• Ontario - Gender Designation on Driver's Licenses (Ends 09/29/2006)
• Texas - LE Officers in Your Driver's License Offices (Ends 09/20/2006)
• West Virginia - Trailers (horse or car hauler) with living quarter (Ends 10/13/2006)
• Ontario - Closed-course competition motorcycles (Ends 09/20/2006)

If you have any questions about using the new survey tool, contact Janice Dluzynski. To learn more about using the new survey tool, visit our online tutorials.

On Sept. 14, 2006, the House passed a bill to build 730 miles of fence along the United States-Mexico border. The legislation passed on a 283-138 vote, drawing bipartisan support. The measure would authorize the construction of fences in border cities including Brownsville, Laredo, Eagle Pass, Del Rio and El Paso. Additional fencing, ground sensors, cameras and lighting would be built in California. Funds for the fence are estimated between $2.2 billion and $9 billion and would be attached to a separate spending bill. A provision calling for 730 miles of fence was also included in a border security bill the House passed in December. In addition, the Senate passed a comprehensive immigration bill that includes 350 miles of fence. The Senate could consider the new border fence bill in upcoming weeks.

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AAMVA welcomes back the fall workshops November 14-16, 2006 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After a hiatus of several years, the fall workshops have returned to the AAMVA meeting track with a focus on motor carrier issues, law enforcement and technology. Planned by representatives from across committees and discipline areas, the new collaborative format will focus on improving highway safety and motor vehicle administration. Topics will include federal issues and rulemaking, funding and grants, credentials, roadside access, document fraud, highway safety enforcement campaigns and much more. Representatives from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also will be conducting interactive sessions with participants. FMCSA has qualified this workshop for use of MCSAP funding. Agenda details and meeting information is available on the AAMVA Web site.

The Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Board of Directors continues its work to develop the UCR Agreement and put together the fee structure in order to get the UCR ready to go before the end of the year. As of Jan. 1, 2007, the Single State Registration System (SSRS) will be repealed and is to be replaced by the new UCR. AAMVA has been working with other interested organizations to try to obtain a delay in the repeal of the SSRS for one year to allow adequate time to develop and implement the UCR. Currently, the request for the extension of SSRS is included in the Senate appropiations bill that is waiting for the full Senate's review and vote. At this point, it is unsure when the vote may take place. The new UCR Board of Directors is scheduled to meet Oct. 11-12, 2006 in Washington, DC. The latest information on the status of the development the UCR is now available on the AAMVA Web site. Contact Tim Adams at (502) 845-0398 or e-mail tadams@aamva.org for more information.

We still have them! Links to AAMVA’s jurisdiction and associate member Web sites are available in the Knowledge Center’s Research Center under External Resources. Bookmark it today!

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is requesting proposals for the following three research studies: Identifying Voters via Social Security Number Study (closing date extended); Voter Hotlines Study; and Alternative Voting Methods Study. For RFQ (Request for Quotation) details and instructions on submitting quotations and proposals, see the links above. Deadlines and other protocol for submitting inquiries may be found in the "Combined Synopsis/Solicitation" posted for each particular RFQ.

On Sept. 14, the House Administration Committee approved legislation (HR 4844) that would require anyone registering to vote in federal elections to show proof of U.S. citizenship and photo identification. The bill, approved by a 4-3 vote, would require all states to ask for photo identification by November 2008, and to ask for proof of citizenship by 2010. Currently, only some states require a photo ID to vote. In addition, the panel adopted a substitute amendment that extended the bill’s original deadlines. The measure would require states to provide identification cards to eligible voters who cannot pay for them, and would authorize funds to reimburse those states, as well as allow voters without identification to cast a provisional ballot only if the voter presented valid identification to an election official within 48 hours. The bill is tentatively scheduled for floor action on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006. For more information, see the House Web site.

The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) is proposing to revise its privacy and disclosure rules to clarify certain provisions and to provide expanded regulatory support for new and existing responsibilities and functions. These changes in the regulations will increase agency efficiency and ensure consistency in the implementation of the Social Security Administration’s policies and responsibilities under the Privacy Act and the Social Security Act. To ensure your comments are considered, SSA must receive them no later than Nov. 13, 2006. Submit comments using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.