West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles Story Archives - Page 2 of 2

West Virginia to Offer DMV Kiosks in Malls, Grocery Stores

West Virginia will begin offering kiosks in malls, grocery stores and elsewhere as a new option for people to renew car registrations without going to the local DMV.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin plans to unveil the booths at the West Virginia State Fairgrounds in Lewisburg on Thursday.

Tomblin spokeswoman Jessica Tice says the kiosks will be in in easily accessible locations, and can renew a vehicle registration in fewer than two minutes. The kiosks will also print registration cards and decals.

Tice says the idea adds another convenient alternative to heading to Division of Motor Vehicles offices. The DMV already offers an online application option.

West Virginia Debuts 'In God We Trust' License Plate

The state Division of Motor Vehicles has unveiled a special license plate with the motto “In God We Trust.”

It mirrors the state motto adopted in 1956 and the motto used on U.S. currency and coins.

DMV commissioner Pat Reed says the license plate was sponsored by the Dry Fork Recreation Center in Randolph County. The center collected the first 250 paid applications required to produce a special plate.

Several other states have plates with the same motto.

DMV to Use Paid Ads on Office Video Screens

Coming soon to a West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles regional office near you — paid commercials on video screens.

The state Ethics Commission approved the commercials Thursday.

The DMV is upgrading its electronic system that directs customers to specific windows for service at the regional offices. The DMV asked the Ethics Commission for permission to let the system vendor sell 18 minutes of paid advertising per hour. The other 42 minutes would feature state-provided programming, including public service advertisements from the DMV and other state agencies.

The Charleston Gazette reports the commission determined that the state Ethics Act allows such advertising, as long as it doesn’t constitute an official agency endorsement of products or services. The names and images of elected officials in the ads would be prohibited.

Highway Fatalities in W.Va. Drop 18 Percent in 2014

Division of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Pat Reed says an 18 percent decline in highway fatalities could be due to recent safety laws and public awareness campaigns.

Reed said Tuesday that highway fatalities dropped from 332 in 2013 to 271 in 2014.

Reed says in a news release that the decline shows the state is moving in the right direction toward its goal of zero fatalities.

A law passed in 2012 banned texting while driving. Violating the ban became a primary offense in 2013, meaning police can stop drivers. The state’s seatbelt law became a primary offense in 2013.

Transgender Women Claim Mistreatment at W.Va. DMVs

Two transgender women say they were ordered to remove their makeup, jewelry and wigs at West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles offices if they wanted new driver’s license photos.

Trudy Kitzmiller says employees at offices in Martinsburg belittled her, calling her a genderless “it.” Kristen Skinner described similar treatment in Charles Town.

The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund last month wrote state transportation officials to ask for new photos for the women. The letter said denying them a new photo would violate constitutional free speech rights.

Motor Vehicles acting chief Steven Dale says wearing makeup as a man could qualify as trying to conceal or disguise one’s identity.

DMV Says New Laws Will Affect W.Va. Motorists

The West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles says some changes in laws will affect motorists starting this week.

One new law allows DUI offenders to get on the ignition interlock program immediately if they do not request a hearing. The DMV says this will protect other motorists while expediting the offender’s rehabilitation.

Starting Thursday, people requesting an optional ID labeled as “For Federal Identification” will pay an additional $10 fee. Other new statutes will make changes to the upcoming electronic insurance verification process and allow motorcyclists to install certain types of auxiliary white and amber colored lights to make their bikes more visible.