AAMVA
Encyclopedia
The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) is a non-governmental, voluntary, tax-exempt, nonprofit educational association. AAMVA is a private corporation which strives to develop model programs in motor vehicle administration, police traffic services, and highway safety. The association serves as an information clearinghouse for these same disciplines, and acts as the international spokesman for these interests. The association is composed of Motor Vehicle and Law Enforcement Administrators and Executives from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Canadian Territories and Provinces (called Canadian Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators). The States of the Republic of Mexico are invited to join as well, especially since the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement
and the Real ID Act
of 2005.
Some of the items found in AAMVA's policy statements include:
The AAMVA also publishes the technical standards for driver's licenses compliant with the Real ID Act including anti-counterfeit
ing measures and machine-readable technologies such as a PDF417
barcode
on the reverse side.
The AAMVA also operates the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS)
, which is a system that enables jurisdictions to exchange commercial driver information, including out-of-state convictions, in accordance with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act. AAMVA also supports the Problem Driver Pointer System, which is a system that enables jurisdictions to report serious convictions and withdrawals of drivers to the National Driver Register operated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
AAMVA also oversees the International Registration Plan. They provide staff support to the Joint Executive Board for the Driver License Compact
and Non-Resident Violator Compact
and the Driver License Agreement
.
AAMVA also maintains the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) which enables vehicle titling agencies to verify the information on a title with the issuing state's electronic records in order to reduce vehicle theft and fraud. The Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 specified that the information within NMVTIS be available to federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, insurance carriers, and other prospective purchasers (e.g., individuals, auction companies, and used car dealers). By making this information available across jurisdictions, forms of title fraud such as "title washing" are reduced. Title washing occurs when the condition of a vehicle due to flood, junk, or salvage (known as a "brand"), as previously documented by a state, is lost when the title travels to another state putting an unsuspecting buyer at risk of paying more than a vehicle is worth or operating a vehicle inadequately repaired and potentially unsafe to drive.
and the newly created Driver License Agreement
, especially since the events of September 11, 2001.
North American Free Trade Agreement
The North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA is an agreement signed by the governments of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, creating a trilateral trade bloc in North America. The agreement came into force on January 1, 1994. It superseded the Canada – United States Free Trade Agreement...
and the Real ID Act
REAL ID Act
The REAL ID Act of 2005, , was an Act of Congress that modified U.S. federal law pertaining to security, authentication, and issuance procedures standards for the state driver's licenses and identification cards, as well as various immigration issues pertaining to terrorism.The law set forth...
of 2005.
Methodology
As an association representing the state and provincial officials in the United States and Canada who administer and enforce motor vehicle laws, AAMVA facilitates communication and fosters standardization among member jurisdictions concerning traffic safety, titling of motor vehicles, and licensing drivers. AAMVA represents its U.S. and Canadian membership by working collaboratively to support and improve motor vehicle administration, safety, identification security and law enforcement. AAMVA also communicates the consensus views of members to the public, state legislatures, Congress, and other organizations such as the American Trucking Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, and the National Governors Organization.Some of the items found in AAMVA's policy statements include:
- states' participation in the proposed Driver License AgreementDriver License AgreementIn the USA, the Driver License Agreement is a new interstate compact written by the Joint Executive Board of the Driver License Compact and the Non-Resident Violator Compact with staff support provided by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators...
- passing laws against Radar/Laser Detectors and Jammers
- regulating tinted windows
- states issuing front/back license plates
The AAMVA also publishes the technical standards for driver's licenses compliant with the Real ID Act including anti-counterfeit
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
ing measures and machine-readable technologies such as a PDF417
PDF417
PDF417 is a stacked linear barcode symbol format used in a variety of applications, primarily transport, identification cards, and inventory management. PDF stands for Portable Data File. The 417 signifies that each pattern in the code consists of 4 bars and spaces, and that each pattern is 17...
barcode
Barcode
A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data, which shows data about the object to which it attaches. Originally barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines, and may be referred to as linear or 1 dimensional . Later they evolved into rectangles,...
on the reverse side.
The AAMVA also operates the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS)
Commercial Driver's License Information System
Mandated by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act 1986 , CDLIS helps control issuance of a Commercial driver's license and the withdrawal of a commercial driver by the CDLIS jurisdictions...
, which is a system that enables jurisdictions to exchange commercial driver information, including out-of-state convictions, in accordance with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act. AAMVA also supports the Problem Driver Pointer System, which is a system that enables jurisdictions to report serious convictions and withdrawals of drivers to the National Driver Register operated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
AAMVA also oversees the International Registration Plan. They provide staff support to the Joint Executive Board for the Driver License Compact
Driver License Compact
Driver License Compact is an interstate compact used by States of the United States to exchange information concerning license suspensions and traffic violations of non-residents and forward them to the state where they are licensed known as the home state. Its theme is One Driver, One License,...
and Non-Resident Violator Compact
Non-Resident Violator Compact
The Non-Resident Violator Compact is an interstate compact used by 44 states in the United States to process traffic citations across state borders....
and the Driver License Agreement
Driver License Agreement
In the USA, the Driver License Agreement is a new interstate compact written by the Joint Executive Board of the Driver License Compact and the Non-Resident Violator Compact with staff support provided by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators...
.
AAMVA also maintains the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) which enables vehicle titling agencies to verify the information on a title with the issuing state's electronic records in order to reduce vehicle theft and fraud. The Anti Car Theft Act of 1992 specified that the information within NMVTIS be available to federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, insurance carriers, and other prospective purchasers (e.g., individuals, auction companies, and used car dealers). By making this information available across jurisdictions, forms of title fraud such as "title washing" are reduced. Title washing occurs when the condition of a vehicle due to flood, junk, or salvage (known as a "brand"), as previously documented by a state, is lost when the title travels to another state putting an unsuspecting buyer at risk of paying more than a vehicle is worth or operating a vehicle inadequately repaired and potentially unsafe to drive.
History
The organization came into existence in 1933 with the idea of standardizing driver's licensing and traffic laws. In more recent years, AAMVA has pushed very hard for the one driver, one license, one record concept as found in the Driver License CompactDriver License Compact
Driver License Compact is an interstate compact used by States of the United States to exchange information concerning license suspensions and traffic violations of non-residents and forward them to the state where they are licensed known as the home state. Its theme is One Driver, One License,...
and the newly created Driver License Agreement
Driver License Agreement
In the USA, the Driver License Agreement is a new interstate compact written by the Joint Executive Board of the Driver License Compact and the Non-Resident Violator Compact with staff support provided by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators...
, especially since the events of September 11, 2001.