PA Suspended License

Pennsylvania Notary Services - Shout Out

2013-04-11T11:02:00.000-04:00

I just had to give a shout out to my local mobile notary service DelcoNotary.com. They notarize everything I need when helping correct PA license issues and they are top notch. I have the pleasure of having them here in my office when their not out on the road, so I am lucky.

Mobile notary service is a tough gig, always travelling and being presented with all types of different documents and forms, then there is the long hours spent in a real estate closing or in a lawyers office during a will preparation. Not a job I would want....

NY DMV A Fake-Proof Driver's License?

2013-03-18T18:50:00.000-04:00

The New York DMV in Albany is working on a new fake proof driver's license that they claim will prevent identity theft and fraud. The new license uses a black and white photo rather than a full color picture of the person that is claimed to be more secure. Pennsylvania recently released some security updates to the PennDOT issued ID cards and they chose holograms with full color photos. There were comments that even the holograms would not be enough to fight fake ID and license services who prey on the underage and criminals who wish to remain un-identified.

As you can see in the image of the new NY license, the B&W photo is combined with the full color license to create what Motor Vehicles believes will be harder to fake. The NY Times article states that faked driver's license and ID cards are often used for underage drinking violations and less frequently for more nefarious violations.

After the success of a similarly designed United States passport card, New York is the second state to adopt this technology, which incorporates black-and-white images into a full color design. The first, in 2009, was Virginia. Since then, Pam Goheen, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, said the department had not seen a “credible” forgery of a Virginia license, adding that those who tried had failed miserably.

Do you believe that this new ID will be un-fakable or will the tech savvy fraudsters figure out the tricks and keep the fake license market alive?

PennDOT Job Opportunity

2013-01-03T13:11:00.002-05:00

PennDOT has some job openings in their license centers. Choosing a career with PennDOT can lead to serious advancement within the state and PennDOT organization, even if this is a entry position the opportunity may be there for future advancement.

PennDOT Zone Map for Jobs in PA

The job market is tough and finding a job that is local and with a reputable agency can be tough, so find out more about this job at the PennDOT website or by calling Rayna Lemelle at 717-772-3446.

You can read the job specifics at the License Restoration Blog. One interesting note is that in order to qualify for these jobs you may not have had a license suspension or revocation in the last five years. You will also need to have a current class A (CDL) license to be hired for the more advanced position of driver's license tester.

Find Pennsylvania Court Docket Records Online Free

2012-11-21T00:06:00.001-05:00

If you are looking for information about a citation or court hearing, PA has made it easy to research those records. The UJS (Unified Judicial System) has published court docket information for free through the website http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Default.aspx you can also use this system to check for indefinite suspensions are on your driving record.

This site shows criminal records for offenders in PA listed free of charge. The docket sheets outline the charge and area the violation occurred as well as the time and date of violation. You will also be able to see if the person was found guilty or if there were any other charges added to their case as well as if there is any PA jail time required.

PA court case info for district court;
http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/MDJ.aspx

Philadelphia Municipal Court & Philadelphia Traffic Court
http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/MC.aspx

Pennsylvania Common Pleas Court - County Court Dockets
http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/CP.aspx

Appellate Courts in PA - Docket Records
http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/Appellate.aspx

Some PennDOT License Centers Open Monday Before Election for PA Photo ID

2012-09-25T14:57:00.000-04:00

Key Driver Licensing Centers Open the Day Before Election Day

PennDOT License Center District Map

PennDOT has set aside funds to keep the following license centers open on Monday, a day they are normally closed, to assist voters in Pennsylvania with voter ID issues in the last hours before election day. Pennsylvania and PennDOT have been scrambling to make sure that anyone who wants an ID to vote can get proper documentation and help to make sure that no vote is left uncounted. This holding open of these license centers is one more step to try and prevent any missed votes.

Harrisburg – Forty-eight PennDOT Driver Licensing Centers, normally closed on Mondays, will be open on Monday, Nov. 5, the day before Election Day, to better serve customers with last-minute Voter ID needs.

In recent months, PennDOT has worked closely with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the union representing its Driver Licensing Center employees, to reach this agreement.

"I applaud the efforts of AFSCME to work with us on this important effort," said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. "Our employees have been working tirelessly to be certain that any Pennsylvanian who needs an ID for voting purposes has it, and efforts like this show our commitment to getting the job done."

Since the passage of the law in March, PennDOT has been working aggressively to make the voting ID process as customer-friendly as possible. Two major milestones include working with the Pennsylvania Department of Health to facilitate a process for customers who do not have a birth certificate with a raised seal, and extending hours at five Driver License Centers in Philadelphia County.

The addresses of the affected centers can be found online at www.dmv.state.pa.us or by calling PennDOT 1-800-932-4600.

The following PennDOT Driver License Centers will be open on Monday, Nov. 5:

This is only a handful of the total license centers in PA, but they are some of the busiest and most accessible centers in PA. Almost every major area of the state is covered by holding these centers open on the Monday prior to voting, and may help a few get their ID in time. The state has also made steps to streamline the voter ID application, and will not require a hard copy of the birth certificate for those born in Pennsylvania, as long as the computer can verify certain information.

I know how hard it can be for some to get the proper paperwork to verify residence and preove to the sate who you are. I have seen first hand some residents who through no fault of their own, have been accused of ID fraud, or are victims of identity theft, and they have extra hurdles to cross before they can get a ID, even if it is just to vote in November. There are also misconceptions about ability to get a voter ID with a suspended license (Hint: you can!) and difficulties getting to a PennDOT license center, even if all paperwork is ready. I just hope the lawmakers can create some type of review process to allow some of these people the ability to have their vote counted, but sadly I believe this is enough of a deterrent to turn away a large number of those who may see additional barriers to voting now. Only time will tell...

Can I vote in PA with a suspended driver's license?

2012-07-26T23:51:00.003-04:00

YES!

Do not let the new Pennsylvania law that requires a valid ID stop you from voting. A suspended driving privilege does not mean you can't get a valid non driver photo ID. PennDOT offers a basic identification card for free is some cases and as much as $13.50 to most everyone else. You can find more information about the 2012 Voter ID requirements here.

As outline at the PA Department of Transportation website.

Identification issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that includes my name, a photograph, and an expiration date that is not expired (unless issued by the Department of Transportation, then the expiration of the identification cannot be more than 12 months past the expiration date).

You can get your copy of the PA Photo ID Application below. You can take this PA Photo ID App to any PennDOT center to get your photo ID issued.

dl-54a PA Photo ID application

Texas To Allow Suspended License Holders To Pay Restoration Fee Online

2012-07-18T16:25:00.000-04:00

Pennsylvania DMV has been accepting restoration fee payments online for some time now. If you need to know how to get your suspended pa license back, the PennDOT online system and restoration fee is where to start. It seems like Texas has just started accepting this restoration fee, and they just rolled out this system to get drivers the information they need to clear license suspensions in their state. The big issue with a PennDOT Restoration Requirements Letter is that is only gives you a part of the picture. You really need a restoration letter and a driving history to get a complete view of what is going on with a pa license and that driving record will cost you $5 at the PennDOT website.

The following report from the Texas license authority and Department of Public Safety explains the Texas license and driver record system.

Get back on the road faster with Texas.gov An online service offered by Texas.gov, in partnership with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), is helping TX suspended drivers get back behind the wheel with less hassle.Texas.gov/LicenseEligibility lets drivers view instructions for reinstating a license, pay reinstatement fees, and track driving eligibility status. Each year, DPS processes an average of 150,000 driver license reinstatements.

Before the Driver License Eligibility system was launched in Texas, DPS could only receive payments via mail and Texas suspended drivers could only track their driving status by phone. Since the online service's launch one year ago, more than 100,000 suspended Texas drivers have paid their reinstatement fees online instead of mailing payment to DPS headquarters, and more than 3,500 people log in every day to view their Texas reinstatement requirements and check their driving eligibility status.

DPS Driver License Division Assistant Director, Rebecca Davio, is pleased to offer this convenience to suspended Texas drivers. "Not only does this service speed up the reinstatement process, but it gives users transparency into the status of their driving eligibility exactly when they need it," Davio states.

Users have commented, "Thank you for making it easier and quicker to get your DL back in compliance. I can't stress how much better and convenient, plus easy to use this new method was!" and "Simple and informative. The way interaction with my government should be. No teeth pulling here. Thanks for the job well done!"

All suspended Texas drivers, including commercial driver license holders, are eligible to use the onlineDriver License Eligibility system. To use the online service, all you need is an Internet connection, your Texas driver license or ID number, and the last four digits of your social security number. For Texans in need of other driver services, Texas.gov's Driver page also offers Driver License Renewal, TX Vehicle Registration Renewal, TX Driver Records, and more.

About Texas.gov

Texas.gov is the official website of the state of Texas (http://www.texas.gov) and is a collaborative public/private partnership managed by the Department of Information Resources (DIR). Texas.gov helps state and local government entities Web-enable their services and operates without tax funds through a partnership between the state and Texas NICUSA, LLC. Texas NICUSA builds, operates, maintains, and markets Texas.gov and is part of eGovernment firm NIC's (NASDAQ: EGOV) family of companies. Since its launch in 2000, Texas.gov has securely processed more than 165 million financial transactions and collected more than $23 billion on behalf of participating entities.

School Is Out But School Speed Zones Remain!

2012-06-15T15:08:00.000-04:00

School is out for summer in almost all schools in Pennsylvania, but those flashing school zone lights remain in some areas. Please remember that if the lights are flashing, you are REQUIRED to follow the posted speed limit, no matter if you think the school is closed or not.

Do not assume there is no summer sessions, camps, or programs going on. Children may be present and your speed could be the difference between a horrible accident and a near miss.

Police will not hesitate to stop you if you are speeding through a school zone, so keep an eye out for those kids, and the flashing school zone lights!

Are You a Safe Driver? - QUIZ

2012-04-23T15:11:00.001-04:00

Take the Safe driver quiz, see how you rate! Post your results in the comments.

http://www.drivesafepa.org/Safe-Driver-Quiz/

Free Motorcycle Courses For PA Residents

2012-03-28T15:23:00.001-04:00

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation just released some information about the 2012 PA advanced motorcycle safety course being offered FREE to PA residents. Simply the motorcycle test is available to all skill level operators. From the most basic course can be taken when you only have your PA motorcycle permit, and the state will provide the motorcycle and safety gear to complete the safety course. For beginners completing this course will result in a valid PA motorcycle license.

For the second year the state is offering a 3-wheeled safety course. This course is for those newer 3-wheeled bikes, and will permit operation of only three wheeled "Spyder" motorcycles.

The Can-Am Spyder ("Spyder") is a three-wheeled motorcycle with a single rear drive wheel and two wheels in front for steering, similar in layout to a modern snowmobile. The Spyder uses an ATV-like chassis. The manufacturer refers to it as a "roadster," but in technical terms it is more of what has been traditionally called a trike. - From Wikipedia

There is also an advanced course for riders who want to "brush up" on their motorcycle skills, or those who would like motorcycle insurance discounts. More information about these free motorcycle courses can be found online.

Texting & Driving In Pennsylvania Now A Primary Violation

2012-03-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

Anti-Texting Law to Take Effect March 8 in Pennsylvania. This new law makes texting as your driving a primary violation, meaning you can be stopped JUST for texting as you drive.

The big issue is what constitutes texting in Pennsylvania? In the PennDOT press release, State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan explains it that his officers will "attempt to use observations of the driver while the vehicle is in motion to determine if traffic stops are warranted" but any motion can be used to claim texting while driving. The much harder job will be proving that you were NOT texting. I understand and agree with the need for such a law, I am only concerned about how best to enforce this law.

I do not know exactly how the Pennsylvania DMV will handle these reports. Will they be considered moving violations? Will they be recorded on your driving record or cause other un-intended side effects to your drivers license? Only time will tell. Just remember that after March 8th, if you are driving in Pennsylvania, do not look like you are texting or you take the chance of being pulled over.

Harrisburg – Pennsylvania's new law prohibiting text-based communication while driving will take effect at 12:01 a.m. on March 8, making texting while driving a primary offense carrying a $50 fine.

"Your most important job when behind the wheel is to focus only on driving.

Most people would never close their eyes for five seconds while driving, but that's how long you take your eyes of the road, or even longer, every time you send or read a text message," PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said. "It's not just your own life you're risking; it's the lives and safety of every motorist around you."

The new law specifically does the following:

Makes it a primary offense to use an Interactive Wireless Communication
Device (IWCD) to send, read or write a text-based message.
Defines an IWCD as a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, smartphone, portable or mobile computer or similar devices that can be used for texting, instant messaging, emailing or browsing the Internet.
Defines a text-based message as a text message, instant message, email or other written communication composed or received on an IWCD.
Institutes a $50 fine for convictions.
Makes clear that this law supersedes and preempts any local ordinances restricting the use of interactive wireless devices by drivers.

"This is a serious problem and we are hoping that we can educate citizens on the dangers of texting while driving and prevent future accidents," said State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan. "Our troopers will attempt to use observations of the driver while the vehicle is in motion to determine if traffic stops are warranted.
An example might be the motorist continues to manipulate the device over an extended distance with no apparent voice communication.

"Ultimately, we hope that our enforcement efforts will create voluntary compliance by the majority of motorists," Noonan said.

In 2010, there were nearly 14,000 crashes in Pennsylvania where distracted driving played a role, with 68 people dying in those crashes.

Jobless Rate Drops in Pennsylvania Trend Expected To Continue

2012-01-25T00:54:00.000-05:00

More jobs and lower unemployment over last three months mean your future employer will be checking your driving record.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the unemployment rate has dropped nationally and especially in Pennsylvania. This was not an earth shattering percentage, but a trend over the last three months. From a September high of 8.4 percent down to a new 7-month low of 7.4 percent. Dropping a full percentage point may not feel like much, but it is a far cry from states like California (11.1%) Florida (9.9%) Michigan (9.3%) or even the national average (8.5%). This drop in unemployment over the last 3 months means that PA is gaining jobs, and work is becoming available to those seeking it in Pennsylvania. However, there are still a lot of people out of work, so getting that job is harder than ever.

I mention this good news on my driver's license blog because now is a great time to make sure you are in the best position to secure these jobs as they become available. The usual checklist of items applies like, make sure you have an updated resume, and be sure you practice interviewing skills, but one of the most important factors is your PA driving record. Employers are being more selective when choosing who to hire, and they started digging even further into your background to ensure they are hiring the best person available. This means your PennDOT driving record, credit report, and online profile (Facebook, Twitter) are all fair game to hiring managers reviewing your job application.

In rough economic times you have choices to make on where to spend your fading funds, and in these times it is not a tough choice to let a traffic ticket, or even your car insurance slip through the cracks. In Pennsylvania these things can cause a suspension on your driver's license, and leave a black mark on your PennDOT driving record. Once one a hiring manager sees this, your resume or job application gets rejected, and you don't get hired. Don't let an issue with your driving record prevent you from improving our unemployment rate, every job counts!

First you need to request your Restoration Requirements Letter by contacting PennDOT if you are facing a license suspension. This free letter will outline what needs to be done according to PennDOT to get your license restored. The big issues are indefinite suspension and term suspensions. Indefinite suspensions can be cleared by responding to the court or agency listed. Usually these are minor traffic tickets that will result in no action or points being assessed (your employer will not see your point total on your record). You should however, be careful of more serious violations that may result in license suspension, enhanced points (3 or more points) and possible jail or other criminal penalties. According to License Restoration Services, violations like "no insurance" or "driving with a suspended registration" or "driving under suspension" are big red flags to name a few, and "you should always check with a professional prior to taking any action on moving violations" to avoid surprises like additional license suspension or increased penalties.

Once your current issues have been cleared and your PA drivers license restored, you can work on clearing past issues that might hinder your application process. Some of the issues are older major violations that may cause an employer to worry about you being "too much of a risk" or even mistakes made by PennDOT that could hurt you without you having done anything wrong. It is usually too late to fix this problems once the hiring manager has your resume or application. That job is lost. So the next step is critical for everyone, no matter if you think you have an issue or not.

Request your driving record! Getting your driving record from PennDOT is easy. You can request it online or through the internet. Getting your full driving history costs a total of $5 and will show you every violation from the date you were first issued a license number from PennDOT. These notations should be reviewed for both accuracy and impact. Once the timeline has been reviewed a professional can assist in determining if action is needed to prevent issues with prospective employers.

Armed with this game-plan you will put yourself in better position to secure employment and take advantage of the new jobs opening in Pennsylvania. As our economy recovers the number of residents going back to work will increase, but employers are expected to be very selective in who they hire, as there are still many out of work. Ensuring you have a clean record, and are capable of reliable transportation to your job will go a long way in keeping your job application and resume on the top of the pile!

Figures and inspiration courtesy of WSJ

Jail Time Possible For Serious Moving Violations & Traffic Tickets

2012-01-04T15:12:00.001-05:00

Moving Violations and Traffic Tickets can result in much more than license suspension and fines. Jail time is a possibility with some "more serious" traffic and vehicle violations. I previously wrote about going to jail for driving under suspension violations.

I was recently contacted about someone who was convicted of a violation for 75-7122 Altered, Forged or Counterfeit Plates and Documents. Asking about getting a work license or OLL in PA. Well this charge is an automatic disqualification for a PA Work License, and more importantly it is a very serious offence. PA Vehicle Code 75-7122 is graded as a M1 or misdemeanor level 1. This violation carries with it up to 5 years in prison, a criminal record, as well as a year of driver's license suspension without the availability of a limited license.

The license suspension should be secondary to to criminal penalties of the violation including the criminal record that goes along with this violation. So assuming that because most traffic tickets are summary offences, or very minor in the grand scheme, you have to be aware that there are some more serious issues that could arise. Some other violations that can lead to more panalties other than license suspension or points would be;

75- 3733 Fleeing or Eluding Police - Misdemeanor Level 2 - up to Felony 3

75- 3742 Accidents Involving Injury or Leaving the Scene - Misdemeanor 2 up to Felony 3

75- 3732 Homicide By Vehicle - Felony 3 AND 3 Years of License Suspension

This listing is not comprehensive, and are only a few off the top of my head. In these cases your best bet is to speak to an expert and find out all of the applicable penalties and options. As you can see from the limited examples above, there are some violations that carry very severe penalties, including jail for driving under suspension, and these violations should never be taken lightly.

To clarify, you need to understand the differences between a Summary Violation (most traffic tickets) a Misdemeanor (more serious violations - jail time) and the most serious Felony (usually mandatory jail time and increased fines and license suspension)

Under Pennsylvania Criminal Laws, all criminal offenses fall into the following classifications. There are Felonies with three tiers (Felony Tier 1, Felony Tier 2, Felony Tier 3), for which the maximum penalties are:
Felony Tier 1: Up to 20 years in prison
Felony Tier 2: Up to 10 years in prison
Felony Tier 3: Up to 7 years in prison.

There are also 3 Tiers of Misdemeanors (Misdemeanor Tier 1, Misdemeanor Tier 2, Misdemeanor Tier 3), for which the maximum penalties under PA law if found guilty, are:
Misdemeanor T1: Up to 5 years in prison
Misdemeanor T2: Up to 3 years in prison
Misdemeanor T3: Up to 1 year in prison

The lesser category is what is known as a summary offense. If you are found guilty of a summary offense, you face up to 90 days in jail as a maximum penalty for jail. There may be other monetary and suspension times that go with a conviction for a summary offense or traffic ticket.

PennDOT and PA Police Partner to Keep Holiday Travelers Safe On The Road

2011-12-13T14:03:00.003-05:00

From the PennDOT press release just a reminder to be safe during your holiday travels this year. The holiday travel season always sees an increase in accidents and you can also expect more traffic tickets as police and state officials attempt to keep those accidents down and drivers safe.

PennDOT, Police Partner to Keep Holiday Season Travel Safe
		11/17/2011




	Enforcement to Focus on Impaired, Aggressive Driving and Seat Belt Use Harrisburg – PennDOT and police across Pennsylvania will partner for "Operation Safe Holiday," an aggressive effort to keep travelers safe this holiday season. Through early January, police will use sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols and regular traffic safety patrols to crack down on motorists who are speeding, driving aggressively or driving while impaired. Pennsylvania will also conduct Click It or Ticket seat-belt enforcement from Nov. 18 to Dec. 4. "With more vehicles on our roadways, motorists must be especially vigilant during the holiday travel season," said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. "Travelers should buckle up, drive safely, avoid distractions and never drive impaired." PennDOT reports that Thanksgiving continues to be the leading holiday for traffic crashes. There were 4,380 crashes and 55 fatalities last year during that period, which includes the weekends before and after the holiday. Of those, 535 crashes were alcohol-related. During the Christmas and New Year travel periods, there were a combined 2,035 crashes and 19 fatalities. PennDOT encourages motorists to make sure they are well-rested and alert before traveling. Travelers should also rotate drivers and take frequent breaks. Motorists should allow extra time for travel and expect to encounter traffic delays. As weather and road conditions can worsen quickly at this time of year, motorists should always check the forecast for their entire route and make sure their vehicle is equipped with a winter emergency kit and tires with good traction. Weather and travel information for more than 2,900 miles of state roads is available by calling 511 or visiting www.511pa.com before leaving home. Learn more about Operation Safe Holiday by visiting www.DriveSafePA.org. Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PennDOTNews.

PennDOT Drivers License enhanced security features get one step closer to Federal Real-ID

2011-12-05T12:19:00.001-05:00

PennDOT Drivers License enhanced security features overview.

PennDOT began using a new driver's license & ID security feature on December 5, 2011. This new license and ID security feature can be used to ensure valid identification to those tasked with checking ID. Pennsylvania is the first state to use this security feature on Driver's License and ID cards. This verification will not show a suspended driver's license status, but only prove that the license was issued by the state and is not a fake license or fake ID. You can get the new ID by going to your closest PennDOT License Center found here.

WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
The new security feature is a black and white hologram, wherein “PA” sits inside the Keystone symbol surrounded by a circle. To view a sample driver’s license with the new security feature, visit PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website at www.dmv.state.pa.us under the Identity/Security Information Center.

WHY IS PENNDOT ADDING THIS NEW SECURITY FEATURE?
With an already impressive array of security features, PennDOT added this new element to driver’s licenses and photo IDs in order to provide a quick, easy form of identification verification - even under limited light - to bars, banks, law enforcement and others. An on-going process, the addition of this latest feature is indicative of PennDOT’s efforts to improve security and to mitigate counterfeiting while providing a security feature that people can easily see.

WHERE WILL THE NEW LICENSE & ID SECURITY FEATURE BE PLACED ON THE DRIVER’S LICENSE/IDENTIFICATION CARDS?
The new security feature includes two symbols that will be placed over both photo images on the driver’s license and identification card.

WHAT IS SO UNIQUE ABOUT THE NEW PENNSYLVANIA DRIVER'S LICENSE/ID SECURITY ELEMENT?
Produced by state-of-the-art holographic technology; this feature is designed to suppress the color spectrum "rainbow" of normal holography. The result is the striking effect of a black versus white hologram at high resolution. The black and white areas reverse when viewing angle is changed by 90 degrees and is visible in bright, moderate and low-light environments.

HOW WILL I KNOW IF I HAVE A DRIVER’S LICENSE/IDENTIFICATION CARD WITH THE NEW FEATURE?

View the driver’s license or photo identification so that the Pennsylvania Keystone can be seen. Note that the feature is colorless and appears black and white. Without changing the angle of the viewing, rotate the card 90 degrees left or right.
The black and white elements will switch; the black becoming white and the white becoming black within the design.
For night time or low light authentication, use a flashlight held at about a 30 to 60 degree angle to the card surface so that the feature appears.
Rotate either the card or the flashlight 90 degrees and the feature will switch the black and white elements within its design.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE A PENNSYLVANIA DRIVER’S LICENSE/IDENTIFICATION CARD WITH THE NEW FEATURE?
Since Pennsylvania driver’s licenses and identification cards are issued on a four-year cycle, it will take four years for every Pennsylvania driver’s license/identification card holder to have a product with the new security feature.

IF I DON’T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL I RENEW, HOW DO I GET A PENNSYLVANIA DRIVER’S LICENSE/IDENTIFICATION CARD WITH THE NEW SECURITY FEATURE?
You can complete an Application for Change/Correction/Replacement of Non-Commercial Driver’s License (DL-80) or an Application to Replace/Correct Commercial Driver’s License (DL-80CD) and pay the applicable fee. These applications can be downloaded from PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website or you may contact your local PennDOT License Center.

DO ANY OTHER STATES OR JURISDICTIONS USE THIS NEW SECURITY FEATURE ON DRIVER’S LICENSES OR PHOTO IDS?
No. Pennsylvania is the first state in the USA to use this new security feature on driver’s licenses and IDs.

This is a step in the right direction toward enhanced ID cards, or the US Real ID program. This will allow you to use a state issued ID as a replacement for a passport when travelling to certain destinations around the world. This will not show weather a driver's license has been suspended or revoked, it will also not allow someone to travel outside of the United States just yet.

The REAL ID Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 2005, was an attempt to create nationwide minimum standards for states to issue driver’s licenses and ID cards. The law requires changes to state standards, procedures and requirements for the issuance of driver’s licenses and identification cards, if they are to be accepted as identity documents by the federal government.

The United States Department of Homeland Security (U.S. DHS) issued the final REAL ID regulations on Jan. 11, 2008. Under the final REAL ID regulations, only REAL ID-compliant driver’s license and identification cards were to be accepted for official federal purposes, i.e. boarding a commercial aircraft, entering a nuclear power plant or federal facility that requires identification on or after the original full compliance deadline of May 11, 2008, unless states requested and were granted an initial extension by the U.S. DHS. Pennsylvania was granted an initial extension to complete an analysis of the final regulations and to determine whether the commonwealth would participate in REAL ID. This allowed Pennsylvania residents to continue using PA driver’s licenses and identification cards as ID for official federal purposes through Dec. 31, 2009.

Pennsylvania requested a second extension in November 2009. The U.S. DHS granted the commonwealth the second extension in December 2009 to implement the federal REAL ID Act, which allowed Pennsylvania residents to continue using PA driver’s licenses and identification cards as ID for official federal purposes, as defined above, to May 10, 2011.

Requesting and being granted the two extensions by U.S. DHS did not commit the commonwealth to comply with the REAL ID Act.

In March 2011, the U.S. DHS announced that the deadline for full compliance with the REAL ID Act had been extended from May 10, 2011 to Jan. 15, 2013, which means Pennsylvania residents can continue using their PA driver’s licenses and identification cards as ID for official federal purposes through this date.

Regardless of what happens with REAL ID, Pennsylvania remains committed to continuously taking steps to enhance the security of its driver’s license and identification card products, processes and systems to mitigate fraud and identity theft.

Speeding Enforcement Nabs 228 With Help of Pennsylvania State Police

2011-11-25T21:54:00.001-05:00

In late September the Upper Darby police targeted a section of Township Line road for specific speeding enforcement. This section of road has been a problem with speeders and unsafe drivers. The enforcement of the speeding laws was needed because of the problem with speeders in this specific area of Pennsylvania.

With the State Police operating the radar guns and the local Upper Darby police issuing the citations, the joint project of local and state police were able to stop 228 motorists for violating the stated speed limit by 15 MPH or more and issues citations that would result in fines and points on their license.

Kudos to the joint effort of the police forces. They have done their jobs, they have stopped the violators, the drivers left that stop more aware of their driving habits. They did a great job stopping those 228 motorists, getting them pulled over and reminded of the laws they may have been breaking. Finding a problem area and protecting the public from a potential threat is exactly what our police forces should be doing. Thank You!

So far a large number of that in violation had their hearings and Judge Cullen has dismissed the charges with issuing these drivers a warning. Now Police Superintendant Michael Chitwood is upset that the judge took the action of issuing the warnings rather than finding guilt and taking fines from each of the drivers caught in the special targetted speed traps.

“To me, it’s irresponsible and unacceptable, especially when you’re dealing with public safety and potential injury that can be caused by speeding,” Chitwood said. “It’s ridiculous to throw 56 tickets out when speeding is a major, major problem. Judge Cullen threw them all out, discharged them all, because there was no state trooper in the courtroom.

My concern is that the police are pushing too hard for punishment over enforcing the law and protecting the public. The rules are in place to protect us and give a guideline to punish the offender, and the judge is hired by voters to best decide how far those punishments need to go. In the case of these 228 tickets, the judge has decided, on 56 of them, that there was no reason to push the punishment further. The main reason given was the State trooper did not show for the hearings, and this was enough of a reason so far. Even if Judge Cullen dismisses the rest of the violators who request hearings, they have still doled out points and fines to those who did not, or could not, request hearings. This also made those who were stopped, slow down, pay attention, and become aware that their actions effect those around them. Still a big win, and sucking the fine money or adding points to their license was not necessary to get their point across for others to slow down and drive safe.

Chitwood’s letter to Williams cited the 30 pending speeding cases scheduled before Cullen on Dec. 6; six more are scheduled for Dec. 13. Fifteen additional tickets, initially scheduled for Nov. 29, will be continued to another date because Cullen will not be hearing cases that day.

What do you think? Should these speeders automatically be hit with all the penalties, or should we trust the judge to do what is in the best interest of the public in these cases?

Watch Out For those School Busses

2011-11-18T06:32:00.001-05:00

It's getting dark earlier and school students have more after school activities leading to more children heading home later in the dusk hours. Keep an eye out for those flashing lights and be extra aware of the kids getting off the bus! Flashing red school bus lights mean PAY ATTENTION! You don't want to take the chance of going through these flashing lights, it could be detrimental to your driver's license and even worse, the kids getting off the bus!

§ 3345. Meeting or overtaking school bus.
(a) Duty of approaching driver when red signals are flashing.–Except as provided in subsection (g), the driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking any school bus stopped on a highway or trafficway shall stop at least ten feet before reaching the school bus when the red signal lights on the school bus are flashing and the side stop signal arms are activated under section 4552(b.1) (relating to general requirements for school buses). The driver shall not proceed until the flashing red signal lights are no longer actuated. In no event shall a driver of a vehicle resume motion of the vehicle until the school children who may have alighted from the school bus have reached a place of safety. The driver of a vehicle approaching an intersection at which a school bus is stopped shall stop his vehicle at that intersection until the flashing red signal lights are no longer actuated.

The important part is to remember that you should slow down when children are present, and be extra aware of your surroundings to prevent a horrible accident. Stay at least 10 feet behind the bus with flashing lights, and you can always use your flashers to remind other drivers to pay attention. Drive Safe!

Christmas Eve 2011 brings worried parents of new drivers a safe new gift

2011-11-07T10:54:00.000-05:00

In this new age of iPods, in car TV’s and social networking young drivers have more distractions than ever. Lawmakers have heard the call of worried adults and victims of these types of accidents and have written a new attempt at restrictions to help guide our youth. It may not be enough because there is still not laws barring teens from Texting and driving. Distractions can come in all types and this is a good attempt to keep our teen drivers attentive to the road and without points, suspensions and accidents on their license. All of these new precautions will take effect December 24, 2011.

“Behind-the-wheel” time for learners permit holders under the age of 18 years of age increased from 50 hours to 65 hours. It will now require 10 hours of night time driving, while the other five additional hours must be driven in poor weather conditions. This slight change can definitely help parents and guardians realize their participation. The need to expose young brains to different situations while behind the wheel of a 4,000 lb machine is more important than I think some realize.

Further changes to the youth driver’s law have tried to address the common practice of piling all your friends into the car and head out to the Wawa or a concert venue. Current law limits drivers under the age of 18 to transporting no more passengers than the number of seat belts in the vehicle. While this may seem like common sense, we all know teens do not come equipped with common sense.

The new law states that for the first six months of “Cinderella” driving, the teen driver or learners permit holder can only have one passenger under age 18yrs, not an immediate family member in their vehicle unless they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If they have had a clean record (no moving violations and no reportable crashes) after six months, they may have up to three passengers under age 18 who are not immediate family members without a parent or legal guardian present. If they have any convictions or are partially or fully responsible for a reportable crash while a junior driver, they are again restricted to one passenger.

All in all these new amendments to the Teen Driver laws in PA seem to be in the right tone of voice but in my opinion miss the mark on TRULY curbing distractions for the young and inexperienced drivers with a fresh drivers license.

New Rules For PA Work License with DUI

2011-10-19T15:41:00.000-04:00

It looks like the Pennsylvania State Government is working to make the PA Work License or Occupational Limited License more available, but with tighter restrictions, to 1st and 2nd time DUI violations. Under the new regulations the fee for a work license application will go up from $50 to $100 which seems more than reasonable considering how much work the employees at PennDOT must do for each application. This fee is not refundable, and experience has shown that finding out if you are eligible for the license is a bit on the tricky side. I talk to dozens of people every week who tell me they can't get a straight answer if they qualify for the Occupational License, and I have to set most straight on reasons they may be disqualified or on how we can get them qualified or the work license.

The proposed new regulations would also require a first time DUI violation to get the limited license after serving a set time of suspension and would require the instillation and maintenance of the Ignition Interlock system. The ignition interlock system is a system to prevent the starting and operation of a vehicle by anyone who can not pass a breath test. The system measures blood alcohol levels through a breathalyzer and prevent the start of the vehicle. The interlock system also requires re-test during the extended operation of the vehicle, and will provide a shutdown if the test is ignored or failed. This is a basic prevention measure and is a good first step toward recovery, and not a horrible choice to allow violators a break without being too much of an obstruction.

You can find the full text of the proposed regulations and changes to the Occupational Limited License Law below. Please share your thoughts about requiring the interlock system for first and second time DUI offenders. Is it too much of a restriction or should more be done to prevent violators from driving?

PA Work License - Occupational License - Bread & Butter License new DUI rules

PA Offering No Charge Vehicle & License Replacement After Flood

2011-09-16T19:41:00.000-04:00

Because of recent flooding in some parts of the Pennsylvania, Transportation Secretary of Transportation, Barry J. Schoch, P.E. announced that PennDOT will offer victims of the flooded areas replacement driver license and vehicle products at no charge. This should help ease the burden of those that lost everything during the hurricane and subsequent rain storms that swelled the banks of local rivers and streams. If you are having issues with your license, and you need duplicate forms or records, they are not included in the no charge replacement program, but you can always complete request forms to get your pa driving records replaced.

Flooded Drivers get License & Vehicle Docs Replaced Free

Pennsylvania driver license products include duplicate licenses, learner’s permits and photo identification cards. Motor vehicle products include replacement PA license plates and registration stickers; registration cards; duplicate PA titles and person with disability placards.

As part of the PA Governor’s response to flood damaged areas in the Pennsylvania Counties, effective Sept. 8; PennDOT has authorized an extension of the expiration dates for licenses, identification cards and vehicle inspections/registrations. The expiration date for vehicle registration and inspections scheduled to expire on Sept. 30 has been extended until Oct. 14. The expiration date for driver licenses and identification cards scheduled to expire between Sept. 8 and Oct. 13, has been extended until Oct. 14.

Only those customers in areas identified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as having been affected by flooding are eligible for the extension. Please visit the FEMA website for identified areas at www.fema.gov or the Pennsylvania Emergency Management (PEMA) website at www.pema.state.pa.us.

PennDOT services for flood victims are available at Photo License Centers around the state but also, to assist flood victims with their motor vehicle and other disaster-related issues, FEMA and PEMA have established Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs). DRCs are currently located in the following counties: Bradford County; Columbia County; Dauphin County; Luzerne County; Lycoming County; Sullivan County and Wyoming County. To apply for a replacement driver license or motor vehicle products, customers need to complete a PennDOT MV-Flood form, available at disaster recovery centers or online Driver License Flood FormsNote that products will not be issued on site at the DRCs. Products will be mailed or made available for pick-up at local Driver Licensing Centers.

License Suspended For Not Paying a No Insurance Ticket - Paid But License Still Suspended, WHY?

2011-08-30T11:02:00.001-04:00

My driver's license was suspended for driving without insurance/license and not showing up for court dates. I did have my license and insurance at the time but did not have my wallet with me. I was wondering how much it will cost me to reinstate my driver's license and if I might have to take the driver's test over again or not. If I have documentation that I had a license and insurance at the time would it help me? I'm in Pennsylvania if that helps. Any answers are greatly appreciated.

You have two Pennsylvania license suspension issues here. The first is that you did not respond to a traffic citation. When that happens a notice (DL-38) was sent to PennDOT informing them of your "failure to respond" and PennDOT suspended your driving privilege. This type of suspension is a "Indefinite Suspension" and as soon as you respond to the court it should be lifted. The notice you received from PennDOT told you to respond to remove the suspension, and you responded by paying the citation. This payment also included a plea of guilty to the violation of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code §1786(f). This guilty plea caused problem number 2 for you.

Once you responded to the above ticket by paying the fine and pleading guilty, your suspension for the "failure to respond" was removed. PennDOT was then notified of the conviction for 1786(f)f and you were hit with a driver license suspension for 3 months. So the new suspension is for a set term of 3 months, and you have to surrender your license to PennDOT to start the clock toward that time.

To restore your license after the three months it will cost you a restoration fee ranging from $25 - $100 (depending on your specific violation) and you will need to prove that you have current automobile insurance.

If you had insurance at the time of your stop, you may be able to have the suspension time removed and have your driving privilege restored sooner. Give me a call to find out more, and I can go over your options on how to get this mess cleared.

There are a series of violations that will result in suspension time just by paying the fine. You should always make sure you know the full penalty before paying fines and pleading guilty to any charge.

Drunk Driver Crackdown Will Lead to Increased DUI's

2011-08-16T14:12:00.000-04:00

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20110816_Drunk_driver_crackdown_starts_Friday.html

"Drive Sober, or Get Pulled Over"
"Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest"
"Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving"
Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk

Just some of the slogans your going to see running on TV, radio, and billboards over the next few months. There is a big push for driver safety and sober driving as the area rolls out it's new ad campaign. These ads will be backed up by larger police presence and DUI checkpoints all over the region.

DUI enforcement schedule

Provided by NHTSA

New PA Bill Allows Driver’s License Suspension for Failure to Pay Restitution

2011-07-14T14:41:00.000-04:00

Here is another case where lawmakers have a very short sighted idea of the driving privilege, and being able to remove that privilege to enforce a civil penalty may cause more harm than good. State Representative Keith Gillespie from the 47th District, Pennsylvania House of Representatives is trying to give assistance to the damaged parties in auto related violations. His plan is to enact a drivers license suspension on the defendant who has been found guilty, and had additional penalties imposed by the judge to compensate the damaged victim.

The idea sounds great as a tool to make the violator feel more pressure to pay all monies owed. As it stands right now, a license suspension can be enforced for non payment of the courts fine and costs, but not for damages owed. A license suspension in PA can also be established for failing to pay a civil judgment if the resident was sued for an automobile accident.

I do not agree that any of these monetary civil issues should result in a license suspension, or there should be other options to prevent the additional burden to the state and the driver. Adding indefinite license suspension time does not help anyone, and actually causes greater harm.

Should what is essentially a civil matter be enforced through state resources? PennDOT is currently looking at ways to make cuts and reduce operating costs. Adding additional operation expenses by increasing license suspension administration should not be happening. I understand that the safety of the residents is the primary concern, but calling for increased administration costs for a civil matter is not the right way to do it. Making a victim "whole" as State Representative Keith Gillespie put it, should not be put on the back of our Department of Transportation or government. There are processes that a victim can take to collect any monies that may be owed arising from damages by the defendant, if those processes are not adequate, then do something about that rather than adding legislation and adding additional burden to the tax payers.

The system of assessing a drivers license suspension for monitary penalties is wrong for the defendant and victim as well. This system has been studied and there is no determination that suspended a drivers license help with collection of monies owed. In fact, a according to a survey of suspended drivers conducted by researchers at Rutgers University, many respondents with a history of license suspension experienced

employment impacts resulting from their driers license suspension:

42 percent of survey respondents with a history of suspension lost their jobs when they had their driving privileges suspended. Job loss was experienced across all income and age groups; however it as most significant among low-income and younger drivers.

45 percent of those that lost their job because of a suspension could not find another job. This was true cross all income and age groups but most pronounced among low-income and older drivers.

Of those that were able to find another job, 88 percent reported a decrease in income. This was true in all income and age groups but most significant among low-income drivers.
All above information was provided by the MOTOR VEHICLES AFFORDABILITY AND FAIRNESS TASK FORCE

Taking the financial situation of the defendant into consideration, asking them to make payment on any money owed, and reducing their income at the same time can not seem sensible to any reasonable person. In addition to adding hardship to the defendant by reducing their income, you also reduce their contributions to the state thereby reducing taxable income that only magnifies the issues with the additional costs to Pennsylvania.

3rd issue - no access to alternatives. This could alleviate number two, but cause an increase in number 1 if you allowed access to the Occupational Limited License. There is a middle ground that is already in place in Pennsylvania. The Occupational Limited License (OLL) or Work License is a restricted license that allows a suspended driver the ability to continue to work, attend school, or get to medical treatments. This restricted license can allow a defendant to continue working, earning income, and leave them with some hope of pulling themselves out of the hole. This would be a great opportunity to have this restricted license count for financial violations, and give some of these residents access to employment opportunities that may not be there with a full license suspension. This restricted license will also give the victim hope that they will be compensated for the damages, so it would be a win for both defendants and victims.

Please write to your state representative and tell them about how this limited license can be the answer to both problems. Let the reps know your feeling so they can vote accordingly!

More Information;
PA House Representatives
Drivers License Suspension Help
State Representative Keith Gillespie

PennDOT survey got me thinking about DUI penalties.

2011-07-11T11:55:00.000-04:00

PennDOT would like you help in completing a survey on driving safety and responsibility. There are a series of questions about driving habits and some general demographic questions. Completing this survey will help PennDOT decide where to concentrate improvement and enforcement in the future.

Driving Survey

I took the survey and it took me less than 5 minutes. There are some tricky questions that do not have clear answers, but I don't think it was meant to be an exact representation. I also skipped the motorcycle portion of the survey as I do not drive a motorcycle.

From the questions I can see where PennDOT is going. They are looking to see if their marketing efforts are having an impact on perceived driver safety and I believe they want to find out where the general public views issues. PennDOT is also asking about what laws you may be interested in regarding DUI with ignition interlock for a first offence, and making seat belt violations a primary offence. Both of these will make maintaining your rivers license more difficult, but may result in safer roadways.

I personally agree that adding a requirement for first time DUI offenders must have the ignition interlock system installed, but only if there is less license suspension time required as a result. This requirement will improve safety and restrict the second time offenders, at the same time allow for a previously licensed driver to continue to work and earn to pay for the fines and costs associated to DUI. The inclusion of an ignition interlock requirement will also teach a driver how quickly you can be impaired by alcohol by showing them their BAC at the same time preventing them from driving drunk.

I do not like violations that cause the double penalty of heavy fines and license suspension for a single mistake. A Pennsylvania resident should never have to be homeless because of penalties of a single mistake, but requiring heavy fines as well as an expensive breathalyzer in addition to a license suspension is a burden that very few can bear at one time. This situation can result in a resident having to pay much more than what they can afford, and not being able to maintain employment or education, causing even more problems with money. This downward spiral can continue with no easy way out, and this is what I would seek to prevent.

Follow-up to Uniform Traffic Ticket email scam

2011-07-06T12:05:00.003-04:00

Traffic Ticket Email Scam - Uniform Traffic Ticket Email New York

Yesterday I posted about an email scam that hit my inbox. The "Uniform Traffic Ticket" scam is reported to be spreading virus and malicious software to users who open the email. This email is bad new, but some have asked where to report the scam, and who might be interested. Please remember that you will never receive a traffic ticket through email. Your local DMV will not request information about you through email, and no state will notify you of a violation of their laws through emails.

Usually I would suggest reporting the scam email to the authority the email claims to be fome. This usually involves a bank or business of some type. In this case it is the state of NY so I would start with the NY Attorney General office. They may be interested to know that someone is posing at the State of New York to try to scam email users and spread nasty stuff.
http://www.ag.ny.gov/contact.html

You can also try contacting the Internet Crime Complaint Center. They are a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). And I think all three would have a hand in researching this "Uniform Traffic Ticket" email scam.

They can be found online http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx