January 2020

School Bus Safety...

Now that the holidays are over, you may need to add more time to your commute because when buses stop to pick up students, other drivers need to stop too. Make school bus transportation safer for everyone by following these practices:

Yellow flashing lights mean slow down, don't speed up, because the bus is preparing to stop. There are likely students waiting to get on the bus or parents waiting nearby to pick up children.
Red flashing lights mean stop and wait at least 20 feet behind the bus because children are getting on or off the school bus. Do not proceed until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins to move.
Even when lights aren't flashing, watch for children, particularly around school arrival and dismissal times in the morning and mid-afternoon. Always be alert as you back out of a driveway, or drive through a neighborhood, school zone, or bus stop.

Human Trafficking is a Modern Day Crime

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated the month of January as Human Trafficking Month. According to DHS, "Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked in countries around the world, including the United States. It is estimated that human trafficking generates billions of dollars of profit per year, second only to drug trafficking as the most profitable form of transnational crime.

Human trafficking is a hidden crime as victims rarely come forward to seek help because of language barriers, fear of the traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement. The Blue Campaign is the unified voice for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) efforts to combat human trafficking. Working in collaboration with law enforcement, government, non-governmental and private organizations, the Blue Campaign strives to protect the basic right of freedom and bring those who exploit human lives to justice.

DC DMV is committed to addressing the issue of human trafficking by making the public aware that our roadways are often used to transport victims from place to place throughout the country. The agency is working on an initiative to educate truck drivers/CDL holders, who are constantly on the road, how to spot tell-tale signs of human trafficking and report any concerns to the local authorities as they travel around the country.

DC DMV Supports Blue Campaign

On January 11, 2020, DC DMV employees at the Rhode Island and Benning Ridge Service Centers wore blue to work in support of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Blue Campaign to bring awareness about human trafficking, which is modern-day slavery.

Learn more about how to identify a victim of human trafficking by visiting DHS's website. If you suspect that someone is a victim, call 1-866-347-2423. If you are a victim, you may obtain help from the National Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).

You may also follow the Blue Campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

REAL ID Update

It's 2020! Have you prioritized obtaining a REAL ID credential as one of your New Year's resolutions? Beginning October 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will require every air traveler 18 years of age and older to have a Real ID compliant driver license, identification card, or another acceptable form of identification to access federal buildings and to board an airplane.

To assist with the compliance process, DC DMV continues to offer District residents whose non-compliant credentials expire after October 1, 2020 the opportunity to renew their credentials early with a prorated fee. Information on the REAL ID process and appointment scheduling can be found at https://dmv.dc.gov. Renewals will require residents to bring proof of identity, proof of Social Security number, and two proofs of residency during their visit to the DC DMV.

Be sure to use the Document Verification Guide found at, https://dmv.dc.gov/page/real-id-early-renewals, to ensure you have all your acceptable documents prior to your appointment.

Director Robinson Discusses "Back to Basics" at Mayor Bowser's 2020 Accountability Report Event

Director Robinson (seated in center) participated in a "Back to Basics" panel discussion at Mayor Bowser's 2020 Accountability Report event held at Gallaudet University on January 13th, where he highlighted DC DMV's culture for delivering great customers service, particularly through the agency's online services and mobile app. He was joined on the panel by Christopher Geldart, Director, Department of Public Works; Jeffrey Marootian, Director, District Department of Transportation; and Gregory Dean, Chief, Fire and Emergency Medical Services. The discussion was moderated by Lucinda Babers, Deputy Mayor for Operations and Infrastructure.

The District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles promotes the safe operation of motor vehicles
and public safety while providing outstanding customer service.