Inside This Issue...

The AAA Foundation released the results of new report, “Nationwide Review of Graduated Driver Licensing,” at a recent press conference. The AAA Foundation commissioned researchers at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health to conduct the study. The full report and press release are available on the Foundation's Web site. This new analysis of GDL laws reviews traffic fatality and injury statistics before and after implementation of GDL provisions in states across the nation. The study confirms that GDL programs have been reducing crashes and saving lives, and reveals that the more comprehensive programs have been having substantially greater impacts. If you would like hard copies of the report, e-mail asaidman@aaafoundation.org with the number of copies and your shipping address.

Working up a new DL/ID card design? You might want to check out the latest updates to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the AAMVA DL/ID Card Design Specifications. This document was just updated on Feb. 15, 2007. If you need further information, contact Rich Carter at (703) 908-8296.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites public comment on one currently approved information collection requirement that it will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. TSA requested and subsequently received emergency clearance of this information collection request on Jan. 12, 2007, which collection was assigned OMB control number 1652-0042. TSA is now seeking to renew the control number for the maximum three-year period in order to continue compliance with sec. 525 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007 (DHS Appropriations Act), and to continue the process TSA developed whereby a party seeking access to SSI in a civil proceeding in federal court that demonstrates a substantial need of relevant SSI in the preparation of the party’s case, and that the party is unable without undue hardship to obtain the substantial equivalent of the information by other means, may request that the party or party’s representative be granted conditional access to the SSI at issue in the case.

Additionally, court reporters who are required to record or transcribe testimony containing specific SSI and do not have a current clearance required for access to classified national security information as defined by E.O. 12958 will need to request to be granted access to SSI. In order to determine if the individual may be granted access to SSI for this purpose, TSA will conduct a threat assessment that includes: (1) A fingerprint-based criminal history records check (CHRC); (2) a name-based check to determine whether the individual poses or is suspected of posing a threat to transportation or national security, including checks against terrorism, immigration or other databases TSA maintains or uses; and (3) a professional responsibility check (if applicable). Send your comments by April 16, 2007. They may be mailed or delivered to Katrina Kletzly, Attorney-Advisor, Office of the Chief Counsel, TSA-2, Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220. For more information, contact Katrina Kletzly at the above address, by telephone at (571) 227-1995 or facsimile at (571) 227-1381.

If you haven’t already done so, please respond to the following survey. AAMVA appreciates your input!

• Connecticut – Fraud Alerts in DL Systems (Ends 02/28/207)

The next AAMVA CIO Outreach conference call is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, from 2 to 3 p.m. EST. These meetings address IT issues which are relevant to the CIOs of the DMVs (in both the U.S. and Canada) and concerns which are relevant to their day-to-day jobs. A copy of the draft agendas and minutes from previous meetings is available on AAMVA's Web site. The conference call telephone number and conference ID can be found at the top of the agenda. Please send requests for future agenda topics to Greg Sensiba at gsensiba@aamva.org or(703) 908-2822.

You spoke. And we listened when you said, "What works for one jurisdiction, doesn't necessarily work for all jurisdictions." So, to meet your greatest demand of all, AAMVA, PBS and CarTalk are removing the requirement of displaying the logos of the show's underwriters on all safety and promotional collateral materials. Now the collaterals you receive and post or include in direct mailers will only include the animated likeness of Click and Clack, the agreed upon partner safety message(s), and the time and air date of the show on your local PBS affiliate(s). But please note, for those jurisdictions that can display the underwriter logos, PBS will be planning as part of their marketing program for the show, larger media buys and more outreach events in your jurisdictions. So, if this changes your direction with the partnership, please contact Jason King at (703) 908.8287 or jking@aamva.org for a revised memorandum of understanding. We meet with PBS in early March to identify all passengers riding into primetime.

If you are, great! But if not, AAMVA, through a PACE/CSD collaborative effort, has produced some turnkey materials to help you communicate to your customers recent and upcoming changes in your jurisdiction's driver's license administrative policies and procedures. This consumer awareness campaign features all the elements of a comprehensive integrated strategy, including news releases, speeches, community outreach, speeches, brochures, flyers, posters, billboards, opeds, print ads and its very own Web site--www.licenseinfo.org. Help your customers "get it together" today, before they come unprepared to the driver's license office tomorrow! You will need an AAMVA username and password to access this information. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is continuing a phased implementation of a new provision related to informal hearings in the 49 CFR part 386 Rules of Practice. On March 17, 2006, this alternative was implemented in states included in the Midwest Service Center geographic area. Beginning on Feb. 13, 2007, this alternative is being expanded to states included in the Eastern Service Center geographic area. FMCSA's final rule revising 49 CFR part 386, “Rules of Practice for Motor Carrier, Broker, Freight Forwarder, and Hazardous Materials Proceedings," published on May 18, 2005, (70 FR 28467) became effective on Nov. 14, 2005. As revised, the Rules of Practice permit a respondent in a civil penalty proceeding to request an informal hearing as an alternative to either a request for a formal hearing or a request to submit written evidence without a hearing. The Rules of Practice, however, do not prescribe specific procedures for conducting informal hearings. As the informal hearing process is a new alternative for motor carriers, FMCSA is implementing this alternative in phases to allow FMCSA time to evaluate and refine how the informal hearing process is conducted.

In the near future, AAMVA plans to publish the next releases of CDLIS (Commercial Driver's License Information System) documentation (Release 4.1.0) for the ACD Manual, the CDLIS State Procedures Manual, the CDLIS Systems Specifications, the PDPS Supplement to the State Procedures Manual, and the PDPS Driver’s License Number Survey. AAMVA has  incorporated the MCSIA Frequently Asked Questions from the AAMVA Web site and seeks to avoid impacting MCSIA testing. As part of finalizing the documentation, AAMVA plans a series of Outreach Calls with the jurisdictions on February 27 and March 6, 13, and 20 to discuss the updates. To participate in these Outreach Calls, contact Vanora Burgess at vburgess@aamva or (703) 908-5879.

Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-N.Y., has introduced legislation (HR 1061) that would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct a pilot program to determine whether a state driver’s license could serve as a border crossing card. This would delay a deadline for implementation of the card, which is outlined in the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), part of the 2004 intelligence overhaul law (PL 108-458). That law requires all travelers entering the United States to present a passport or other approved documents denoting citizenship and identity. The fiscal 2007 Homeland Security Appropriations law (PL 109-295) has already delayed the implementation of the sea and land portion of WHTI to June 1, 2009, or when various technical requirements are met. DHS and the State Department are deciding what alternatives to a passport might be used for land and sea. The air portion was implemented in January. DHS has agreed to conduct a pilot project in Washington state that would test whether an enhanced driver’s license could be used as a border crossing card. But Slaughter’s bill would prohibit DHS from issuing a final rule on WHTI until the pilot project is complete, and require DHS to incorporate the outcome of the pilot into the final rulemaking.

Take your training to a higher level! Sign up today for a course with AAMVA University. Following are upcoming courses to be held in Arlington, Virginia. We can also arrange training at your facility. Visit www.aamva-u.org for details or to register online!

Fraudulent Document Recognition (FDR):
 
FDR  Level II Course: April 2-5, 2007 (4 days/comprises FDR Levels I & II); $650; cut-off March 16
FDR Instructor Certification Course: May 21-25 (5 days); $750; cut-off May 4 (prerequisite: FDR Level II course)

Vehicle Document Examiner Certification (VDEC):

VDEC Instructor Course: March 26-29 (4 days); $650; cut-off March 9 (prerequisite: VDEC 2-day course)
VDEC Course: May 7-8 (2 days); $500 per person; cut off April 20
VDEC Instructor Course: June 4-7 (4 days); $650 per person; cut-off May 18 (prerequisite: VDEC 2-day course)

Working With Customers (WWC):

WWC Instructor Course: April 30-May 3 (4 days); $650 per person; cut-off April 13

The Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) has released 10 Steps to a Strategic Review of the DWI System: A Guidebook for Policymakers. The report is designed to assist policymakers in leading a strategic review of the DWI system at the local, county, or state level to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the DWI system and close loopholes commonly exploited by savvy repeat offenders. This report was developed by the Working Group on DWI System Improvements at their 3rd Annual meeting held in April 2006. The guide contains 10 critical steps that are based on sound research and have been developed with input from criminal justice professionals across the country. These 10 steps are designed to assist policymakers in creating an effective team to conduct a comprehensive and impartial system assessment that highlights priority needs. The guide contains tools to aid in the decision-making process, and recommends ways to successfully implement change built upon consensus. Copies of the guide can be downloaded by going to www.tirf.org. Hard copies of the guide are also available upon special request.

AAMVA joined other partners in traffic safety and injury prevention at a planning meeting for United States activities during Global Road Safety Week, April 23-29, 2007. Held at the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration headquarters in Washington, DC, a major focus of the week will be teen driver safety. AAMVA is currently determining how best to participate and spread messages that can help make roads safer worldwide. If you or your agency are interested in participating in the World Health Organization's Global Road Safety Week, click here for an activities tool kit.