A Message from Director Robinson

Greetings DC! October is Pedestrian Safety Month. As days are becoming shorter with less daylight, it's important that drivers take extra caution while driving, particularly in areas with high pedestrian traffic. Please read on to learn more about pedestrian safety tips in our Vision Zero section. By following the basics of pedestrian safety, we can all make the District a safer place to live and work. DC DMV has released newly designed temporary tags. Keep reading to learn more about what has changed, and how to obtain your temporary tags at DMV services centers today. Additionally, the District has become the 42nd jurisdiction to participate in the State-to-State (S2S). S2S is a verification service that enables DC DMV to electronically verify whether an applicant holds a driver license or identification card in any other participating state.   Finally, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we include a reminder in this month's edition that Breast Cancer Awareness tags are available at all DC DMV Service Centers. As a reminder, please join me for DC DMV's Live Chat the first Thursday of each month. I'll be online for a full hour to respond in real-time to any of your DC DMV-related questions. Our next online live chat is scheduled for Thursday, November 7 at 12 p.m.  Thank you for reading this edition of our newsletter. Enjoy and stay safe!

Pedestrian Safety

October is Pedestrian Safety Month!

There are many different preferences when it comes to transportation, but at one time or another everyone is a pedestrian.

When drivers maintain safe speeds and practice other safe driving behaviors, safer walking environments are created for you, your loved ones and others in your community. It's important that we know and follow the basics of pedestrian safety.

As a pedestrian:

• Whenever possible, walk on the sidewalk; if no sidewalk is available, walk facing traffic.
• Follow the rules of the road, obeying all traffic signs and signals.
• Cross streets at crosswalks.
• If no crosswalk is available and your view is blocked, move to a place where you can see oncoming traffic.
• Look left, right and left again before crossing the street, making eye contact with drivers of oncoming vehicles to make sure they see you.
• Stay alert – avoid cell phone use and wearing earbuds.
• Avoid alcohol and drug impairment when walking.
• Wear bright and/or reflective clothing and use a flashlight at night.
• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots.
• Children younger than 10 should cross the street with an adult.

Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. When driving, help keep pedestrians safe:

• Obey all traffic laws, especially posted speed limits in school zones. The school zone speed limit in the District is 15 mph.
• Watch for pedestrians at all times and be extra cautious when backing up.
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, making eye contact to indicate that you see them.
• Never pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks as a pedestrian could be crossing the street.
• Stay alert – avoid distracted driving.
• Do not drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Have You Downloaded our Free Mobile App?

Did you know DC DMV offers three types of personalized vehicle tags?

You can #SkiptheTrip and instantly find out via our free mobile app if the personalized tag you want is available. Scan the QR code below to download our mobile app today!

Commercial Driver's License Program Implementation Grant

The DC DMV is proud to announce that Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has awarded us funding to support our Commercial Driver License (CDL) initiative for District of Columbia Drivers. 

The DC DMV offers a CDL to professional drivers who reside in the District. DC DMV's CDL is a credential that complies with federal identification guidelines and can be used as a federal-level ID. It is valid for eight years and can be renewed.

CDL holders are held to a higher standard when they operate any type of motor vehicle on public roads. If you're interested in knowing what it takes to get your CDL, visit our CDL website. 

Holiday Closure Update

In recognition of the Veterans Day holiday, all DC DMV locations will be closed on Saturday, November 9 and Monday, November 11. DC DMV Service Centers and Inspection Station will resume regular business hours on Tuesday, November 12.

Many of DC DMV's services will remain available online or via the agency's free mobile app.

Updates and announcements from DC DMV

Newly designed Temporary Vehicle Tags now available in all service centers

DC DMV has released newly designed temporary vehicle registration tags.

In efforts to eliminate vehicle registration fraud and enhance the existing pre-printed cardboard stock tag that requires handwritten information, the DMV has upgraded its temporary tag offering to a modernized paper tag with laser-printed alphanumeric digits generated by the DESTINY motor vehicle information system. The new tags are now available at all DC DMV service centers.

DMV offers a 45-day temporary vehicle registration and hard temporary vehicle tags for District residents who must have their vehicles inspected before the vehicles can be fully registered.

To obtain a temporary DC DMV registration and hard temporary vehicle tag, you will need to bring the following documents to a DC DMV service center:

• Certificate of Title/Temporary Tag Application
• A properly endorsed title
• Proof of valid DC insurance
• Valid DC DMV credential

Washington, DC joins 41 other jurisdictions in

State-to-State driver verification program

State-to-State (S2S) is a verification service that enables DC DMV to electronically verify whether an applicant holds a driver license or identification card in any other participating state.  

Implementing the S2S Verification Service decreases processing time and improves the accuracy and completeness of driver history records. This enhancement supports safer driving practices and bolsters public safety in the District of Columbia.

S2S provides the following key features:

• Maintains compliance with the federal REAL ID Act.
• Limits a person to one driver license and one Driver History Record.
• Enables a state to determine whether a person holds a credential in another state.
• Provide consumers protection from unsafe vehicles.
• Enables a state to send a request to another state to surrender or invalidate a credential.
• Reduces fraudulent activity on records.

DC DMV's Breast Cancer Awareness specialty vehicle tags

While October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, DC DMV offers Breast Cancer Awareness specialty license plates to District residents. The specialty tag is available at all DC DMV Service Centers.

Residents interested in purchasing a Breast Cancer Awareness specialty tag will pay an initial fee of $45. This represents a one-time application fee of $25 and a yearly display fee of $20. The initial fee plus the yearly fee will be donated to the Community Health Financing Fund to support the promotion of breast cancer prevention and treatment.

For more information on DC DMV's Breast Cancer Awareness tags and other specialty vehicle tags, please visit our website here.

Breast Cancer Awareness Statistic

One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. In 2023, an estimated 297,790 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.

Car Seat Event Success!

For Child Passenger Safety Week, the DC DMV partnered with the DC Highway Safety Office (DC HSO), DC Department of Transportation (DDOT), Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Children's National Hospital, Safe Kids DC and State Farm. Together, we conducted 54 inspections/installations and distributed 39 car seats! Watch our car seat event recap here. 

Although Child Passenger Safety Week is over, our partnership does not stop here. The Child Safety Seat Program is operated by DDOT but functions with the help of DC DMV, MPD, and Safe Kids Washington DC. The program was designed with child safety in mind and exists to share out pertinent safety information to parents and caregivers about child safety seats. 

The program provides qualifying District residents with an infant or toddler a free booster seat and information about properly installing and buckling children into their safety seats. Learn more about the Child Safety Seat Program. 

The DC DMV Inspection Station also offers car seat inspections and installations year round. Visit us at 1001 Half St. SW during normal operating hours to ensure your little ones are safe while on the road.

DC DMV's Job Prep Workshops Recap

This past month, our human resources and training teams led two job prep workshops for District Residents that focused on important topics when looking for and interviewing for a new job.  

Sessions focused on how to answer common interview questions, interview "do’s and don’ts," and resume preparation tips and best practices.

Thank you to everyone who came out, we hope it was insightful! Watch our event recap here.