In this issue:
- OTS: Helping teens drive smart during season of prom, grad parties, summer fun
- DVS: Getting ready for Driver’s License for All
- State Patrol: Fostering family’s ‘passion to serve’
- Commissioner's corner
- Featured social media
 Two teenagers drive down the road wearing their seat belts.
Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) coordinator Jessica Schleck isn't afraid to get a little silly if it means starting the right conversation. Schleck works with schools and student groups in Dodge County to remind students how to keep themselves and their friends safe behind the wheel. It is particularly important this time of year: the season of proms, graduation parties and summer fun.
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Make it fun: TZD organize seat belt challenges and have teens drive Drunk Buster Pedal Karts around while wearing drunk goggles.
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Why we do it: It's important for teens to learn good driving habits early. Traffic crashes are the second leading cause of death for Minnesota teens.
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Student partnerships: The key to the success in Dodge County is Schleck's partnerships with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and student councils in the area.
Learn more here.
 Driver and Vehicle Services staff set up an eye exam station during a town hall event to prepare for the Driver’s License for All law to go into effect.
The staff in our Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division know how important driver’s licenses can be. That's why they are already hard at work making sure undocumented immigrants across Minnesota are prepared for Oct. 1, when the Driver's License for All law passed by the Minnesota Legislature goes into effect.
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Answering questions: DVS has begun hosting town hall events, making employees available to those who have questions about the law and how it will affect them.
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How to begin: You can begin the process of getting a license by requesting an appointment to take the two tests. You can make an appointment up to 30 days in advance at mn.gov.
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Get details: For more information on Driver's License for All and to get a copy of the driver's license manual to study, check out the DVS website.
Learn more here.
 Trooper Tim Vaagenes hugs his children Tuesday after his wife, Trooper Sarah Vaagenes, pinned his badge on his new uniform during the Minnesota State Patrol Academy graduation ceremony.
Trooper Tim Vaagenes graduated Tuesday with the State Patrol’s 67th Academy Class after being recruited to the agency by his wife, Trooper Sarah Vaagenes. He was drawn to law enforcement because it offered the opportunity for a career that was more than just a job.
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Cadets become troopers: Twenty-three cadets took the oath and became a Minnesota State Patrol trooper on Tuesday during the graduation ceremony.
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Passion to serve: Tim knew from watching his wife's success and career that the State Patrol was a great place to work, one where you could make a difference and be there for Minnesotans on the worst days of their lives.
Learn more here.
Our Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division's new multilingual virtual assistant is already helping Minnesotans get their driver's license and vehicle registration questions answered.
DVS online visitors can use the virtual assistant to ask questions, gather information and research topics in one of four languages: English, Spanish, Hmong and Somali.
From when the virtual assistant was turned on March 1 through last Wednesday, usage includes:
- 45,642 total conversations.
- By language:
- English 44,038.
- Spanish 1,191.
- Somali 250.
- Hmong 163.
- 6,172 self-service transactions.
Find the virtual assistant at drive.mn.gov in the bottom right corner.
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