U.S. Marshals Ask for MVA Help 
The U.S. Marshals Services has requested AAMVA's assistance with educating motor vehicle agencies about requirements to protect judges and their family's personal information. The
Court Security Improvement Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-177) signed into law on Jan. 7, boosts penalties for attacking or threatening judges or their families at all levels of the federal judiciary, and also authorizes the Department of Justice to make grants to states, municipalities and American Indian tribes for similar protections. The law also expands the jurisdiction of the U.S. Marshals Service to include tax courts and any other courts. In addition, Section 508 in the law contains provisions amending the REAL ID Act to protect judge’s addresses appearing on the individual’s driver’s license and identification cards. The bill amends section 202(b)(6) of the REAL ID and allows federal judges to substitute the address of the federal courthouse for their address of principle residence and in the case of a Justice of the United States, the address of the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Marshals Services is asking for states' cooperation to implement this requirement to protect members of the Judicial Conference addresses for public security reasons. The agency is planning on sending letters to each motor vehicle agency. If you have any questions, contact U.S. Marshal Service Headquarters, Judicial Security Division, Office of Protective Intelligence Threat Management Center (TMC) at 202-307-6100.
L-1 Identity Solutions to Acquire ID Systems Business from Digimarc
L-1 Identity Solutions, Inc. (L-1) and Digimarc announced on March 24 that L-1 will acquire Digimarc's ID Systems business in a stock and cash transaction valued at approximately $250 million based on the current market price of L-1 company stock. The acquisition has been approved by the respective Board of Directors of each company. View the
press release for a more details.
Model Specifications Revised for Alcohol Screening Devices
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revised the Model Specifications for Screening Devices to Measure Alcohol in Bodily Fluids (Model Specifications) published in the Federal Register on Aug. 2, 1994 (59 FR 39382). These devices test for the presence of alcohol using breath or bodily fluids such as saliva. The Model Specifications support state laws that target youthful offenders (i.e., “zero tolerance” laws) and the Department of Transportation’s regulations on Alcohol Misuse Prevention, and encourage industry efforts to develop new technologies (e.g., non-breath devices) that measure alcohol content from bodily fluids. The notice removed testing of Interpretive Screening Devices (ISDs) and use of the Breath Alcohol Sample Simulator (BASS) device from the Model Specifications. The ISDs did not provide an unambiguous test result, as test results for ISDs are subjective and require interpretation by a test administrator or technician. Because the agency has determined the BASS device is not necessary for inclusion in the Model Specifications, this notice removes all references to the BASS device. Additionally, in order to ensure product integrity, the notice provides guidelines for retesting devices when manufacturers contemplate changes, revisions, or upgrades to alcohol screening devices on the Conforming Products List (CPL). These revisions to the Model Specifications will not affect devices currently listed on the CPL. Revisions to these Model Specifications became effective March 31, 2008.
Background information is available in the March 31 Federal Register.
Washington EDL Approved by DHS
An April 3rd Federal Register notice announces the secretary of homeland security is designating enhanced driver’s licenses and identity documents (EDL) issued by the State of Washington as acceptable documents to denote identity and citizenship for purposes of entering the United States at land and sea ports of entry upon implementation of Section 7209 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. U.S. citizens possessing these EDLs will be permitted to present the EDL as an acceptable document under the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative when entering the United States from Canada and Mexico at land and sea ports of entry. This designation will become effective on June 1, 2009.
View the Federal Register notice for more details.
Compliance Labeling of Retroreflective Materials Heavy Trailer Conspicuity
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), an April 1 Federal Register notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) on Compliance Labeling of Retroreflective Materials Heavy Trailer Conspicuity has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice, with a 60-day comment period, was published on February 13, 2008 [73 FR 8399]. Comments must be submitted on or before May 1, 2008. View the
April 1 Federal Register notice for more details.
Elaine Duke Nominated as DHS Under Secretary for Management
President Bush has announced the nomination of Elaine Duke as the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) under secretary for management. Duke began her service to the department in 2002 as the deputy assistant administrator for acquisitions at the Transportation Security Administration. She served as the department’s deputy chief procurement officer from October 2004 to January 2006, when she assumed duties as the chief procurement officer. She further excelled in October 2007 when she became the department’s first deputy under secretary for management. As the department’s under secretary for management, Duke is responsible for managing our department’s budget, appropriations, expenditure of funds, procurement, human resources, information technology systems, and facilities and property management.
Apply for the Innovations in American Government Award
Harvard University invites you to apply for the $100,000 Innovations in American Government Award, given annually to programs that serve as the best examples of creative and effective government. Innovations Award winners receive national press attention, serve as examples of model programs worthy of replication and spark research and teaching cases at Harvard University and other schools across the country. All levels of government are eligible to apply. For selection criteria and simple application, please visit
www.innovationsaward.harvard.edu.
EAC Will Award Grants to Improve Election Data Collection
The United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is accepting applications for its Election Data Collection Grant Program. The program will award five grants worth $2 million each to five different states to collect data for the November 2008 presidential election. The program aims to provide states with the resources needed to develop and implement election data collection administrative and procedural best practices that can be shared with, and replicated by, other states. For information on how to apply, requirements and background information,
visit the EAC Web site.
ICR on Consolidated Labeling Requirements
The Information Collection Request (ICR) for Consolidated Labeling Requirements for 49 CFR Parts 565, 541, and 567 was forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on October 2, 2007 (72 FR 56027). The agency received no comments. Comments are invited on whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Department, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of the Department’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments must be submitted on or before May 1, 2008. View the
April 1 Federal Register notice for more details.
Chertoff Testifies at DHS Oversight Hearing
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff testified at an April 2 hearing before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on "
Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security". Sen. Patrick Leahy noted a lack of confidence with the DHS in how it has handled the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, the REAL ID Act and naturalization backlogs, among other things.
Chertoff's testimony and
Leahy's statement are available on the Committee's Web site. Access the Webcast of the hearing on the
Committee's Web site.
Speed Management Manual Released Ahead of Global Road Safety Discussion
The third good practice manual jointly prepared by the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the FIA Foundation and the World Bank, on speed management, was launched by GRSP ahead of the United Nations General Assembly discussion on road safety on March 31, 2008. Speed has been identified as a key risk factor in road traffic injuries, influencing both the risk of a road traffic crash as well as the severity of the injuries that result from crashes. For instance, pedestrians have a 90% chance of survival if hit by a car travelling at a speed of 30km/h or below, but less than a 50% chance of surviving an impact of 45km/h or above. This speed management manual proposes simple, effective and low-cost solutions to excessive and inappropriate speed that can be implemented on a national or local level. It targets governments, non-governmental organizations and road safety practitioners, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries. The manual is based on a modular structure that provides evidence, examples, case studies and practical steps on how to manage vehicle speed. The manual, along with manuals on
helmets and
drinking and driving can be downloaded from the WHO Web site at
http://www.who.int/roadsafety/projects/manuals/en/. GSRP is also working on a seat-belt manual, a manual on road safety management, and a manual on data systems.
ATA Urges Federal Government to Help Bring Down Fuel Prices
The trucking industry is experiencing the highest prolonged fuel prices in history. For some motor carriers, fuel is beginning to surpass labor as their largest expense. This ultimately will increase the cost of everything delivered by truck. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) is urging the federal government to help alleviate trucking companies' hardships by encouraging fuel-saving strategies, requiring speed limiters set for 68 mph or lower on all new trucks and setting a national maximum speed limit of 65 mph,
among other things. ATA recently issued letters to President Bush, the Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Treasury requesting that immediate steps be taken to address this crisis situation.
More information is available on the ATA Web site.
Fatigue & Work Seminar
The National Safety Council is co-sponsoring a Fatigue & Work Seminar presented by The Big Sleep Show. Topics will include drowsy driving, shift work, absenteeism, workplace injuries and accidents, and currently available solutions and technologies. The Seminar will take place on May 9 from 9 am to 6 pm at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The cost is $75 for seminar registration, lunch and materials. Group discounts are available. For questions or to register, visit
www.thebigsleepshow.com or call (916) 392-8599.
CRS Studies Regulatory, Implementation Issues of REAL ID Act
A new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report includes an analysis of several of the major elements of the REAL ID Act regulations and looks at its relationship to other federal laws and ID programs.
Read the report online.
Second Phase of WHTI Rule Finalized
The second phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative to implement new documentation requirements for U.S. citizens and certain non-immigrant aliens entering the United States was finalized. This final rule details the documents U.S. citizens and nonimmigrant citizens of Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico will be required to present when entering the United States from within the Western Hemisphere at sea and land ports-of-entry. The final rule is effective June 1, 2009.
More details are available in the April 3 Federal Register.
Join Us in Tampa for the 2008 Fall Workshop
Make plans to join AAMVA for the 2008 Fall Workshop, Oct. 27-30, in Tampa, Florida at the Hyatt Regency Tampa. Representatives from each program and support area of the membership are working on the agenda and developing networking and learning opportunities. Want the latest updates when they become available? Sign up for e-mails on
Workshop Updates today!
All Jurisdictions Meet REAL ID Deadline
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) granted REAL ID extensions to all 56 U.S. jurisdictions, ensuring that driver’s licenses and ID cards across the country will achieve a higher security standard, and that all will continue to be acceptable for official purposes after the May 11, 2008 deadline mandated by Congress in the REAL ID Act of 2005. REAL ID extensions are valid until Dec. 31, 2009, when states must upgrade the security of their systems to include a check for lawful status of all applicants for their licenses and ID cards to be acceptable for official purposes. The need for secure documentation was a core 9/11 Commission finding.
More information is available on the DHS Web site.
AAMVA's New Online Community Directory
Is your information up-to-date in the new Community Directory? Find out now! AAMVA's new online
Community Directory allows members to search AAMVA's membership system for jurisdictional, federal government, associate member and AAMVA/IRP staff contacts. This "members only" directory allows a search for people, organizations or committees. Members can keep their own records up to date through the use of
My AAMVA.
A PDF version of the jurisdiction portion of the AAMVA Membership Directory is still available and is posted as a members only document. If you need assistance with a Web ID or password, contact the
Member and Conference Services Department.
Share Information with Other Jurisdictions
If you haven’t already done so, please respond to the following surveys:
AAMVA Staff Participate in GDL Events
Karen Morton, AAMVA Driver Programs staff, recently participated in a conference call with the Governor's Graduated Driver's License (GDL) Task Force from Conn. to discuss proposed legislative recommendations to reduce teen crash rates. Also, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) invited Morton to participate in a GDL Experts Panel to review and provide comments on a Legislative Planning Guide being developed by CDC and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), for use by states who are proposing legislation to implement or strengthen GDL laws. The panel met at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and is awaiting a second draft of the guide. In other GDL-related activities, Vivienne Cameron, Kevin Lewis, Thomas Manuel and Karen Morton participated in a kick-off meeting with NHTSA to discuss the GDL and Driver Improvement task orders.
Driver Programs Staff Conduct 2-day 2005 CDL Test Train-the-Trainer Classes
Kevin Lewis and Karen Morton, Driver Programs staff, conducted two 2-day 2005 Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Test Train-the-Trainer classes for the Missouri Highway Patrol, March 23-29, 2008. The Missouri trainers will begin training all CDL Examiners to conduct the new CDL tests which they will implement in the next several months.
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--James Branch Cabell