2000 BMV News

WHAT: OPLATES Kick-off

WHEN: Tuesday, December 12, 2000, 11 a.m.

WHERE: The Columbus Metropolitan Library, Main Branch, Second Floor,
99 South Grant Ave., Columbus

WHO:     Governor Bob Taft
                 Lt. Governor Maureen O’Connor, Director, Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS)
                 Franklin R. Caltrider, Registrar of Motor Vehicles
                 Volunteers who will register online
                 Motorists who have successfully registered through OPLATES

Governor Bob Taft; Lt. Governor Maureen O’Connor, Director, ODPS; and Franklin R. Caltrider, Registrar of Motor Vehicles will officially kick-off OPLATES.com, Ohio’s online and telephone vehicle registration system, on Tuesday, December 12.

Members of the media will see a demonstration of OPLATES.com as volunteers renew online. There will be an opportunity to speak with Ohioans who have successfully registered through OPLATES. Also, Ohio lawmakers who drafted Senate Bill 242, the E-commerce bill, will be in attendance.

During the State of the State Address in January, Governor Taft promised Ohioans OPLATES.com Would be up and running by January 2001. In June, Governor Taft signed the E-commerce bill into law.

Over 18,000 renewals have occurred through OPLATES since testing began in mid-October. Ohio motorists can renew their vehicle registration by logging onto www.OPLATES.com or by calling toll free 1-866-OPLATES.

Members of the media whose vehicle registration needs renewing are encouraged to renew online following the media conference.

BMV Driver License Database Upgraded

COLUMBUS, OHIO (Friday, December 8, 2000) – Upgrades to Ohio’s 25-year-old driver license computer database is nearly complete the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) reported today. The upgrade, which has been five years in design and implementation, is designed to allow law enforcement agencies and courts easier and quicker access to traffic violation histories, suspensions and license status. The $6.4 million upgrade went into effect on Sunday, December 3, 2000.

Law enforcement agencies, who provided input for the new system design, have complained in the past that suspension information, particularly recent court suspensions were not readily accessible or accurate. "This new system should significantly reduce the possibility of errors. We acknowledge there have been past problems, and that is why we have taken this very positive step," Frank Caltrider, Registrar of Motor Vehicles said.

Law enforcement agencies were notified the system was being upgraded and advised agencies to use caution when taking action regarding a driver’s license validity. After the upgrade, the database showed a small percentage of licenses were currently under suspension when in fact these licenses were valid. That problem has been corrected.

The BMV maintains over 8 million driving records and 11 million vehicle registrations.

Online Auto Sale Ends With A Conviction

A case solved by investigators with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) has resulted in one of the nation’s first odometer rollback convictions originating over the Internet.

Dmitriy Maratovich Usmanov, 33 of Ann Arbor, Mich., was convicted in Fairfield County Common Pleas Court on one count of Failure to Give Notice of Tampering or Non-Function of an Odometer, a fourth degree felony.

Usmanov was sentenced to six months in prison, three years probation, a $250 fine, costs and restitution as determined by the court.

Usmanov was indicted in May after he sold his 1997 Dodge pickup truck over the Internet to a Hocking County resident. BMV investigators found the odometer had been rolled back from 28,900 miles. At the time of the sale, Usmanov claimed the truck’s odometer read approximately 10,500 miles.

The BMV was notified of the problem after the Hocking County resident began experiencing mechanical problems and also noticed the truck had new tires.

"This is an example of how we are protecting our citizens against Internet fraud," said Frank Caltrider, Registrar of the BMV.

Even though the actual tampering occurred in Michigan, an Ohio Revised Code statute gave Ohio officials jurisdiction to prosecute. The statute states if a computer crime is committed, the offender may be charged where the victim used the computer to obtain the information.

BMV investigators worked with the Bureau of Criminal Investigations Computer Crime Section within the Office of the Ohio Attorney General, the Fairfield County Prosecutor’s Office and the Michigan Secretary of State’s Office.

BMV To House Organ Donor Registry

COLUMBUS, OHIO (Wednesday, November 8, 2000) – The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is a step closer to housing the Organ Donor Registry thanks to a unanimous vote by the Ohio Senate.

Senate Bill 188 requires the BMV to develop and maintain a donor registry which would identify certain individuals who have specified through their identification card, driver license or motorcycle endorsement of their intentions on becoming an anatomical donor. The bill now goes to Governor Bob Taft for his signature.

"This is good public policy for the BMV," said Lt. Governor Maureen O’Connor, Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS). "It makes sense to house the registry in the BMV, since data is already collected for driver licenses and motorcycle endorsements."

The bill gives final consideration to the donor on whether to donate. Family members would not be allowed to overrule a person’s wishes.

The registry will be maintained so that organ procurement organizations, tissue banks and eye banks have immediate access to the information. The registry, which must be fully operational by July 1, 2002, will also function 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Since 1969, the BMV has asked customers if they would like to be an organ donor. At that time, those customers who agreed to become organ donors were given a donor card. In 1986, the donor information appeared on the individual’s ID card, driver license or motorcycle endorsement, instead of giving a separate donor card. Since the beginning of the year, 45.7 percent of Ohio drivers and 26.9 percent of ID holders have pledged to be organ donors.

New License Plates Will Honor Future Farmers of America and Professional Firefighters

COLUMBUS, OHIO (Tuesday, October 31, 2000) – Two new license plates will start showing up on Ohio’s roadways soon. On Wednesday, November 1, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will offer the Future Farmers of America (FFA) and the Professional Firefighters license plates to motorists.

"The new plates honor the dedication and hard work of both organizations," said Lt. Governor Maureen O’Connor, Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS). "ODPS and the BMV strive daily to provide services and products such as specialty plates, which would make Ohioans proud."

The FFA plate will feature the organization’s logo and cost an additional $25. The FFA will receive $15, which will benefit an endowment fund. The annual interest from the fund will be used to help support special projects and scholarships for Ohio FFA members. Remaining amount of the plate will cover administrative costs.

The Professional Firefighters plate will also feature the organization’s logo and cost an additional $10. Any International Association of Firefighters’ member in good standing, either active or retired is eligible to receive a plate. The member must submit the appropriate application along with a letter from their local president confirming the applicant is "in good standing."

"In order to respond to customer demand, the BMV is continuing to offer the people of Ohio a variety of license plates," said Frank Caltrider, Registrar of the BMV. From January 1 to September 30, 2000, the BMV issued 508,592 specialty plates. Last year, the BMV sold 636,652 specialty plates. In 1999, more than 11.5 million vehicles were registered in Ohio.

Test Requires Comprehensive Understanding of Ohio Road Laws

Anyone who plans on taking the Ohio driver’s test should be prepared, the written test has been redrafted to more thoroughly test the applicant’s knowledge.

The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) hope to have the new tests in place by November. The new tests will be conducted through a touch-screen in three Driver Examination Stations in Franklin County. The remaining Driver Examination Stations in Ohio will receive paper versions of the test. Those tests are expected to be distributed throughout the next few months.

According to Frank Caltrider, Registrar for the BMV, the new tests are going to be more challenging.

"As in the past, the new tests require people to read the Ohio Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws handbook and know it from cover to cover," Caltrider said.

Caltrider also added the tests are offered in English, but will be offered in other languages, such as Spanish, later.

The new tests include more questions and require more comprehensive understanding of Ohio road laws. To pass the new written test, a person must correctly answer 38 out of the 50 questions. Also, at least two versions of the test will circulate periodically throughout the examination stations.

For those Ohioans who will be using the computerized test, questions will be asked in different order and the testing equipment will shut down once a person passes or fails the test.

The new tests will be available for the following driver tests:

Commercial Drivers License (CDL)
    Air Brakes
    Doubles/Triples
    General
    Hazardous Materials
        Tanker
        Combination
        Passenger
Motorcycle Endorsement
Adult Driver
School Bus Operator
Juvenile Driver
Moped
Driver Training Instructor

Ohio Department of Public Safety Teams with Honda to Find Ohio's Safest Young Driver

COLUMBUS, OHIO (Wednesday, October 18, 2000) - Lt. Governor Maureen O'Connor, Ohio Department of Public Safety Director, today announced a partnership between the Ohio Department of Public Safety, the Safe America Foundation and Honda to find "Ohio's Safest Young Driver."

"We’re proud to be teaming together with Ohio companies and organizations to find the safest young driver in Ohio, and in the process, teach Ohio teens the life lessons they’ll need to keep themselves and their friends safe on the road," said Lt. Governor O’Connor during the Statehouse kick-off event.

Studies show new drivers take more risks including speeding, passing, drinking and driving, and not wearing a seat belt. Excessive speed is the number one cause of fatal crashes involving teen drivers. Statistics show more fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur when more passengers are in the car. Across Ohio, teenage drivers are over-represented in traffic crashes; while drivers ages 15 through 20 make up 6.7 percent of the driving population, they account for 14 percent of the drivers involved in fatal crashes.

To enter to become "Ohio’s Safest Young Driver," teens aged 16-18 (with no moving violations) must complete a 15-multiple choice test, an essay on what they do to improve highway safety on Ohio roads and an optional essay on a safe driver they know and try to emulate. Twelve finalists will compete in a "Drive-off Day" at the Transportation Research Center at East Liberty, Ohio. The winner will receive a 2001 Honda Civic. Second place receives a $1000 education grant from AAA Ohio. All finalists receive free, one-year AAA memberships. Applications can be found in schools, in driving schools and on the web at www.ohios-safestyoungdrivers.com and www.safeamerica.org.

BMV to Replace Driver Licenses or Identification Cards with Incorrect Holograms Free-of-Charge

COLUMBUS, OHIO (Tuesday, October 3, 2000) – The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is asking Ohio citizens who have recently renewed their driver licenses or identification cards to check their credentials.

Approximately 20 Ohio Deputy Registrars have reported receiving incorrect laminates from a supplying vendor. The incorrect laminates feature the hologram seal from the state of Arkansas. Viisage Technologies, the vendor who sent the incorrect holograms, provides laminates to several states besides Ohio.

The BMV estimates approximately 500 licenses/IDs have been issued with the incorrect hologram. Many of the incorrect licenses/IDs have been corrected. The BMV and the Deputy Registrars are working to locate and notify the remaining individuals who could possibly have the incorrect hologram.

"We are aware of the problem and have been working to correct the problem since it was first reported," said Frank Caltrider, Registrar of the BMV. "If someone has a license or ID with the incorrect laminate on it, please take the license or ID back to the Deputy Registrar where it was issued. The Deputy Registrar will replace the license or ID free-of-charge."

Most of the licenses/IDs issued with the incorrect laminates occurred in the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus and Toledo areas. Law enforcement officials have been notified of the mistake, which does not make the license/ID invalid.

Viisage Technologies has assured the BMV, this problem will not happen again.

One Week Left to Register to Vote

COLUMBUS, OHIO (Tuesday, October 3, 2000) – With the October 10^th deadline to register to vote in the 2000 election fast approaching, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) would like to remind Ohioans of its "Motor Voter" service.

"Just this year over 95,000 Ohioans have registered to vote," said Lt. Governor Maureen O’Connor, Director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. "Motor Voter makes it faster and easier for Ohioans to be heard at the polls."

Motor Voter allows new voters to register and allows registered voters to update their name and/or address. In coordination with the Office of the Secretary of State under then Secretary Bob Taft, the BMV implemented Motor Voter in January 1995. Since its inception, over a million (1,059,113) Ohioans have registered to vote.

In accordance with Motor Voter guidelines, a Deputy Registrar is required to ask individuals during license or identification transactions if they are registered to vote in the state of Ohio and/or if their information is current. Ohioans can register to vote without completing a BMV transaction.

Deputy Registrars provide voter registration information to their respective county Board of Elections. More information on specific Boards of Elections can be found at http://elc.ohio.gov/.