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Florida Drivers License Check

FL drivers license check traffic school If you've been in a little bit of hot water, if you've got a few moving violations, if you've had some trouble making your insurance payments on time, then you may find yourself in the position of wondering whether or not your driver's license is worth the paper it's printed on. Good news! There's ways you can check your Florida drivers license before you get back into traffic! Here's how! Step One: Go Here. And there you are, you're good to go! It will tell you if you're valid or invalid. It's free, it's simple, it takes fifteen seconds, or less if you're a fast typist. If you've misplaced your license, you still might have the number somewhere. Search your emails for mentions of it, look at old applications and paperwork, see if you still have the temporary paper ID they sent you. The website probably doesn't care where you get the number. Ordering your report from the official website for Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the state's DMV, will help you to get your information quickly. Note that there are a ton of unofficial websites clearly designed to trick users. They have URL's like TheOfficialForRealDMV dot net with tiny disclaimers reading "Your (unofficial) guide to the DMV!" We can't vouch for any of these sites. Maybe they're on the level, maybe they really are useful guides. Or maybe they'll ask for your credit card number and set you up with a ton of monthly fees to pay if you don't catch on and have the payments blocked. If a website doesn't end with dot gov, then it does not represent a government agency. The downside to checking your license through flhsmv.gov: You need your license number. If you've lost your driver's license, then you're going to have to figure something else out. You can contact them to make an appointment to make it easier, but you're going to have to make an appointment. Of course, it's just as well, since you're going to want to get a new copy of your driver's license before you go driving around, anyway. Unless you've got a friend at the agency that can hook you up, you're going to have to pay some small fees to get a hold of your records. Fees • 3 year driver history records - $8 • 7 year driver history records - $10 • Crash reports - $10 • Replacement license or ID card - $25 That's really all you need to know: If you have your license number, use the website. If not, make an appointment and go in to check your license's status. HEY WAIT A MINUTE WHICH NUMBER DO I PUT INTO THE WEBSITE? Your driver's license is covered with numbers. The number you want to put into the website is the one on top (or at least that's what Florida driver's licenses look like as of the time of the writing). It probably looks something like this: DRIVER LICENSE CLASS D S582-848-72-828-0 Just put in the number, not the "DRIVER LICENSE CLASS D" part. It really is as simple as that. Checking without the driver's license number on hand is a bit of a pain in the neck, but you don't really want to be pulled over in traffic and not have your license on you anyway. You may have to go to Florida traffic school to dismiss the traffic violation and pay an additional fee for not having your license on you. NOTE: You don't need your driver history report in order to check the validity of your license. All you need is your license number and the link provided above.

CA DMV Top Responsibilities

dmv A Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) exists in every State except Hawaii, where DMV functions are handled by the local government. This government agency administers driver licensing issuing and renewal, vehicle registration and certificates of ownership, or titles, among other responsibilities.   CaDmV The CA DMV performs all of the above responsibilities, as well as administering the compulsory financial responsibility laws required by California. This law states that all those people who operate or own motor vehicles in California must be financially able to provide monetary protection for those people who have been either injured or have had their property damaged by being in a vehicle accident, regardless of liability, carelessness, culpability, or negligence.   CaDmV2jpg If a vehicle owner receives a notice that the State intends to suspend their driving privileges because they've failed to give evidence of their financial responsibility, the vehicle owner is then entitled upon request to a hearing. In a State where traffic is considered worse than any other State in the US, this law plays an important role.   CaDmV3jpg California has been in the public eye since it was determined that the State has over 23 million licensed drivers, substantially more than the State with the second largest number of licensed drivers, Texas, which has approximately 15 million licensed drivers. With this massive amount of drivers contributing to California's at times horrendous traffic, it is important for the DMV to uphold their responsibility to assure that every owner of motor vehicles and every driver should be able at all times to establish their financial responsibility under Vehicle Code 16020, and should at all times have in their vehicle proof of their financial responsibility.   CaDmV4jpg Vehicle Code 16070 also requires suspension of an owner or driver who fails their obligation to prove that financial responsibility was in place at the time of any reportable accident.   CaDmV5jpg Vehicle Code 16075 states that the DMV department is required to hold hearings and make their determination before the actual date of the suspension.   CaDmV6jpg Vehicle Code 16000 demands that every motor vehicle driver who has been part of an accident occurring on a highway or public street, must report said accident to the DMV within 10 days of the accident if anyone was either injured or killed, as well as if one person's property sustained damages costing over $750.   CaDmV7jpg Vehicle Code 16000 also demands that off-highway accidents must be reported as well, if they involve any vehicle which is subject to registration, including those vehicles which aren't currently registered, and there is damage of one person's property over $750, or if there is any injury of death of anyone as a result of the accident.   CaDmV8jpg A hearing request from the California DMV must be responded to within 10 days of receipt. The hearing will not take into account any claim of drivers that because it was "the fault of the other driver", that their licenses shouldn't be suspended. The hearing will consider if the respondent was involved in an accident, whether there was damaged property over $750, and whether any individual was hurt or killed.   CaDmV9jpg The hearing will also determine whether the respondent had either automobile liability insurance, or any other approved kind of financial responsibility that was in effect during the time period of the accident. If a driver can't be identified (when false identification has been used or it's a hit and run situation), and a registered owner can't identify the driver, the owner then will have to submit financial responsibility evidence or their driving privileges are subject to suspension.

NY Cracks Down on Distracted Drivers

Governor Cuomo Approves Law to Crack Down on Drivers Using Handheld Gadgets New Legislation Makes Using Handheld Electronic Devices while Driving a Primary Traffic Offense; Additional Regulation will Increase Penalty from 2 Points to 3 Points for Cell Phone and Electronic Device Usage While Driving Albany, NY (July 12, 2011) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed a new law that strengthens the enforcement against drivers who use handheld electronic devices for activities such as texting while a vehicle is in motion. The legislation makes this action a primary traffic offense, giving law enforcement the power to stop drivers solely for engaging in this activity.   The Governor also announced today that he will increase the penalty for using a cellular phone without a hands-free device or a handheld device while driving from two to three points through changes in state regulations.   "I am proud to sign this bill today, both as the Governor and as a father of three teenagers," Governor Cuomo said. "It's plain and simple: distracted driving leads to tragedies that have affected families all across New York. This new law will help ensure that drivers keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. I thank Senator Marcellino and Assemblyman Weisenberg for their hard work on this legislation."   Before this law, it was illegal for drivers to use handheld electronic devices while their vehicle was in motion, but it was a secondary traffic offense -- meaning a driver had to be stopped for another violation in order to receive a ticket.   The new law makes it a primary traffic offense and it will go into effect immediately. The monetary penalty for a violation of this law continues to be a fine of up to $150.   Illegal activity includes holding an electronic device and:
  • Composing, sending, reading, accessing, browsing, transmitting, saving, or retrieving electronic data such as e-mail, text messages, or webpages
  • Viewing, taking, or transmitting images
  • Playing games
The law does not penalize drivers using a handheld electronic device that is affixed to a surface or using a GPS device that is attached to the vehicle. The law also exempts police officers, fire fighters, or emergency vehicle drivers while they are performing their duties. In addition, a driver is exempt from the law if the driver is communicating or attempting to communicate with law enforcement, the fire department, or medical personnel during an emergency situation. New York State Senator Carl L. Marcellino said, "With this new legislation, New York State driving laws have finally caught up with today's technology. Our new law will strengthen enforcement against drivers using handheld electronic devices and help keep drivers, passengers, and pedestrians safe. I am proud to stand with Governor Cuomo as he signs the bill I sponsored into law and we finally make distracted driving a serious offense."   New York State Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg said, "As a former police officer, I've seen the devastation caused by distracted drivers. Today, we are giving law enforcement the tools they need to keep our roads safe and prevent future accidents. These changes will save lives. I'd like to thank Governor Cuomo for supporting this law and I look forward to our continued work together." New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D'Amico said, "Motorists should now realize the dangers of operating a motor vehicle while texting on mobile devices or talking on a cell phone without an approved hands-free device. This change in the statute will allow law enforcement to continue the battle against distracted driving. Distracted driving is dangerous driving and drivers must reduce diversion and behaviors that take their attention from the road. Attentive, responsible, defensive driving is the key to avoiding crashes and keeping our highways safe."   New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly said, "It's no secret that violations of the no-texting and no use of hand held devices while driving rules are widespread despite their nexus to accidents, including fatalities. This legislation is a welcome step toward saving lives." President of AAA New York State Thomas Hoy said, "With nearly 2 trillion text messages sent last year, texting represents the most dangerous form of distracted driving. We applaud the Governor and lawmakers for stiffening the consequences for those who jeopardize the rest of us with their careless conduct."   The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 16% of fatal accidents in 2009 were due to distracted driving and 20% of people injured during a crash were involved in a crash where distracted driving was reported. A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that truck drivers who were texting were 23 times more at risk of a crash or near crash.

Traffic School Rule Change – Court Dismissal Changing to Conviction

ATTENTION CALIFORNIA DRIVERS

california-4 Traffic School Rule Change - Court Dismissal Changing to Conviction Traffic School New Policy Effective July 1, 2011, California courts must report traffic safety violations as convictions. If the driver is eligible and completes a Traffic Violator School (TVS) course, the conviction will be masked on the driver record. The driver record will be checked to determine a driver’s eligibility to participate in a traffic school course.
A TVS conviction will not be masked if: • There is a prior TVS dismissal/conviction within the previous 18 months. • The conviction is a major (2 point) violation. • The driver holds a commercial driver license or was operating a commercial vehicle, at the time of the violation. A traffic school abstract of conviction will be the basis for assignment of negligent operator points on a person’s driving record. Background The courts currently offer a driver cited for a traffic safety violation the option to attend a traffic school. When a driver completes the course, the court dismisses the violation and reports the dismissal to the DMV, preventing negligent operator points from being assigned, and the abstract from being the basis for suspension, revocation, or commercial disqualification actions. What does it mean? – Many courts used to allow drivers to attend traffic school more than once every 18 month.  This option is now taken away from the courts and will be regulated by the DMV.   Courts also will not have an option to refer a defendant to traffic school for a more serious violation like DUI, Reckless Driving Etc.