PHOENIX – In an effort to curb misuse, the Arizona Department of Transportation has introduced redesigned, bright blue license plates for usage by licensed vehicle dealers and manufacturers on current for-sale vehicle inventory. The redesigned plates hit the street April 28.

With the introduction of the redesigned plates, the previously issued dealer plates – which resembled standard Arizona desert scene license plates with a number series generally starting with “DL” – are no longer valid. All dealers in the state have been mailed the redesigned, solid blue plates with white lettering that show “Vehicle Dealer” on the bottom.

As another major change, the redesigned dealer plates will also be issued validation tabs and registrations that are valid for one year. Previously, dealer plates were issued with permanent validation tabs and registrations.

The redesigned dealer license plate is being implemented in accordance with House Bill 2372 passed during the 2013 Arizona legislative session. The change in state law now allows ADOT to more effectively manage the issuance of the vehicle dealer plate based on a process tied to vehicle sales and the type of dealership to further enhance the administration of the program.

“The Arizona Automobile Dealers Association was pleased to work with ADOT in distributing the new dealer plates,” said AADA President Bobbi Sparrow. “We’re hopeful this and other changes in dealer plate regulations will help prevent misuse of the plates. The actions of a few can negatively impact Arizona’s dealer industry as a whole and we appreciate the management of the dealer plate program by the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division.”

If someone observes what is believed to be the improper use of a dealer license plate, they may call 602.712.6270 or report the information online at azdot.gov/contact-adot.

For any questions about the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division, please visit azdot.gov/mvd.

PHOENIX – Arizona residents will soon have more options for obtaining a driver license or identification card. The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division is increasing the number of Authorized Third Party providers able to process driver license transactions.

Four existing businesses are scheduled to expand their operations by mid-June. Beginning April 28, Third Party MVS Services, Inc., located in Mesa, will offer driver license services. Other businesses set to add driver license services are Montes Multiple Services LLC, located in Yuma, on May 12; GG & D Financial & Check Cashing LLC, at their west Phoenix location, on May 27; and Ginger’s Title & Auto, located in Sierra Vista, on June 9. Additional Authorized Third Party businesses are expected to offer driver license services during the remainder of 2014 and beyond.

The Authorized Third Party businesses will be able to complete identification card and all phases of driver license application processing for Class D and G operator licenses, including conducting the knowledge and road skills examinations.

Authorized Third Party service providers have been successfully processing primarily title and registration transactions for more than 20 years with a limited few also conducting driver license services. As Arizona continues to grow, the expansion in the driver license program will give customers more options in carrying out this important transaction. The growth in the program was made possible by the passing of House Bill 2183 in the 2013 Arizona legislative session. This expansion means seven Authorized Third Party offices around the state now offer driver license services.

“Authorized Third Party businesses are private companies that contract with ADOT to conduct motor vehicle services, providing customers with options and expanded service opportunities. The program has grown over the years and there are now 147 locations statewide,” said Stacey Stanton, director of ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division. “ADOT oversees the businesses to ensure that stringent operational requirements are being followed and the Motor Vehicle Division provides Authorized Third Party employees with extensive training to assure proficiency is demonstrated by the businesses. Customers can feel confident using Authorized Third Party offices.”

Prior to the current program expansion, there were three Authorized Third Party offices that processed driver licenses: Academy of Driving Motor Vehicle Center, located in Tucson; Western Motor Vehicle, located in Phoenix; and MVP (Motor Vehicle Processing), located in Willcox.

In order to qualify to provide driver license processing, an Authorized Third Party must meet the requirements specified in Arizona law.

“GG & D Financial is looking forward to continuing its partnership with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division to offer this expanded service,” said Director of Operations Ron Neagle. “We believe that both new and existing customers will greatly appreciate the convenience of driver license services being available at the same locations as the existing title and registration services.”

PHOENIX – As the April 15 tax deadline approaches, people doing last-minute work on their tax returns may want to know the amount of vehicle license tax they paid on their vehicle. The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division offers a free online tool called Vehicle Fee Recap on the official MVD transaction services website, ServiceArizona.com, to help vehicle owners easily obtain both the vehicle registration fees and vehicle license tax paid in 2013.

From the home page of ServiceArizona.com, the Vehicle Fee Recap process starts with the customer entering their name, Arizona driver license or customer identification number and date of birth into a secure form. The result is a one-page, printable report that lists the total registration fees and vehicle license tax fees paid for each vehicle on file under the owner of record. The Vehicle Fee Recap report will only contain a listing of registered vehicle information for which a vehicle license tax was paid. In addition, the reports will only contain information for the previous calendar year.

Owners of Arizona-registered vehicles who wish to use the data provided in the Vehicle Fee Recap report should refer to guidance from the Internal Revenue Service or the Arizona Department of Revenue.

“Vehicle Fee Recap is one of ServiceArizona’s most popular features during tax season,” said ADOT Motor Vehicle Division Director Stacey K. Stanton. “Every customer’s time is valuable. Vehicle Fee Recap is yet another way the MVD utilizes technology to save time for our customers.”

The Vehicle Fee Recap feature of ServiceArizona.com is also accessible by mobile devices.

Information on ServiceArizona.com is transmitted securely using encryption technology and the site does not collect or share user data for marketing purposes.

Information about all the services offered by the MVD can be found at azdot.gov/mvd.

PHOENIX – Beginning on Monday, Feb. 24, MVD customers in southern Navajo and western Apache counties will conduct their driver license and vehicle title/registration transactions at a new and improved Show Low office. The Motor Vehicle Division of the Arizona Department of Transportation will open the new office at 161 E. Deuce of Clubs (US 60), Suite B4 in Show Low, within the Show Low Plaza, just east of N. Central Avenue.

In preparation for the move, the current Show Low MVD location will be closed from Wednesday, Feb. 19 through Friday, Feb. 21. The office closure will allow agency personnel to prepare the new facility in a timely manner to resume normal business on Monday, Feb. 24 at 8 a.m.

During this temporary office closure, ADOT reminds customers that many of the common MVD transactions can be conducted online at servicearizona.com.

The new Show Low MVD office will feature several customer service improvements, such as a larger parking area to accommodate oversize vehicles requiring inspection. The interior offers a spacious and comfortable waiting area, additional work stations to efficiently serve customers and a conference room to allow for administrative hearing video conferencing.

The Show Low office serves MVD customers in the Heber-Overgaard, Pinetop-Lakeside, Fort Apache Tribal Nation, Taylor, Snowflake and Pinedale communities.

The new office is an example of how the Motor Vehicle Division continuously strives to provide high-quality customer service for a wide range of driver license, commercial driver license and motor vehicle title/registration services.

A map of the new Show Low MVD office location is at http://goo.gl/maps/pbRuz.

For more information, please visit azdot.gov/mvd.

PHOENIX — Most of us will probably need some type of driver license, identification card or vehicle registration services at one time or another. Today many of those services can be performed online. Unfortunately, Internet resources are being used by scam artists misrepresenting themselves as official motor vehicle division entities with the primary goal of taking a customer’s money and obtaining their personal identification.

The Motor Vehicle Division of the Arizona Department of Transportation is alerting customers that there are various websites conducting numerous fraudulent schemes by falsely advertising motor vehicle services for Arizona driver licenses, IDs, vehicle titles or registrations. The fraudulent websites appear in a search with keywords such as MVD or DMV.

The website scams illegally obtain credit card numbers and charge credit card accounts for unauthorized, bogus services and for services that will not be conducted. The captured credit card information may also be used for future fraudulent purchases and charges.

Additionally, consumers should be wary of phone solicitations. ADOT MVD does not conduct phone solicitations for driver license or title/registration services. Customers should protect their personal information when receiving phone calls from an entity fraudulently representing itself as MVD, ADOT or DMV to sell any type of service or product.

In fact, ADOT MVD does not perform any commercial advertising for the services it provides and does not collect personal information from its customers for the purpose of solicitation. ADOT’s goal is to prevent its customers from becoming victims of fraud and identity theft.

There are numerous legitimate businesses that offer motor vehicle support services such as practice tests or tips for completing the driver license application process. ADOT MVD has authorized third-party offices which are private businesses licensed and authorized to perform MVD transactions.

In Arizona, ServiceArizona.com is the only valid, authorized website for all MVD transactions. MVD customers can use ServiceArizona.com to research information or conduct transactions such as apply for a duplicate driver license and driver license reinstatement, perform registration renewals, purchase specialty/personalized license plates, update personal contact information, obtain a copy of a driver license or vehicle record, obtain a vehicle fee recap, register to vote, or check a vehicle identification number (VIN) for liens or other record alerts before purchasing a used car.

Arizona does not allow the issuance or renewal of a driver license via the Internet. An applicant must visit a local MVD or authorized third-party office.

The following are the only authorized ways to conduct Arizona driver license or vehicle title/registration transactions:

• In person at any ADOT MVD office
• Online through servicearizona.com
• In person at an authorized third-party office
• By standard mail to ADOT MVD

For further information about ADOT MVD services, please visit: azdot.gov/mvd.

PHOENIX – Recent improvements to the design of the ServiceArizona website will make it easier for Arizonans to skip a visit to an Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division office for many common transactions. Instead, customers may renew their vehicle registration, purchase a special license plate and conduct more than 20 other transactions online by using their computer, smartphone or tablet. The website also provides a wealth of information to answer questions about driver license, vehicle title and registration requirements in Arizona.

Over the past 15 years, ServiceArizona has set the industry standard for online customer service.

“When the Motor Vehicle Division launched ServiceArizona in November 1997, it was the nation’s first motor vehicle division eGov service for online vehicle registrations at a time when very little business was conducted over the Internet,” said Stacey Stanton, director of the ADOT Motor Vehicle Division. “Today, ServiceArizona handles more than eight million transactions per year as the preferred transaction method for many of Arizona’s MVD customers.”

ServiceArizona is the only ADOT-authorized online service for conducting driver license and motor vehicle registration transactions. Any transaction that requires a fee will be the same on ServiceArizona or what would be charged in an MVD office. Customers may renew their vehicle registration, purchase personalized and other special license plates, update address/email information, and order a duplicate driver license or identification card.

Other available services allow a customer to purchase a restricted use 3-day or 30-day general use permit, view the available plate credit, apply for driver license reinstatement, obtain duplicate registration, request a plate refund, post a vehicle sold notice, inquire about a lien on a motor vehicle, view a vehicle fee recap for the prior calendar year, obtain their own vehicle or driver license record, verify insurance on file, and request a tab replacement or off-highway vehicle decal.

New technologies include a mobile version of the website and also the installation of ServiceArizona self-service workstations in more than half of the local MVD offices statewide. The workstations provide customers who do not have access to the Internet the ability to renew vehicle registration, obtain a motor vehicle record or register to vote without taking a number and waiting to be served.

Maintaining the privacy and security of each MVD customer’s personal information is ADOT’s highest priority. All confidential records are kept locked inside an “electronic vault” protected by the most advanced security technologies that transmit all transactions in a secure mode using Secure Sockets Layer encryption.

Visit ServiceArizona to experience the redesigned MVD website.

PHOENIX – A revised Arizona Department of Transportation policy to restrict the issuance of driver licenses and identification cards to certain holders of deferred action immigration documents does not have a harmful effect on immigrants who are crime victims or refugees.

Arizona law prohibits ADOT from issuing a driver license to applicants who cannot establish that their presence is authorized under federal law. Through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and litigation pending in federal district court, ADOT became aware that Employment Authorization Cards, which are assigned specific category codes, were used to obtain Arizona driver licenses by certain individuals who do not have authorized presence under federal law. This prompted ADOT to review and update its list of accepted identification documents to ensure that the forms of identification accepted provide proof of lawful presence and are consistent with state statute and federal law.

The policy revision not to accept certain Employment Authorization Cards that are granted to recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, deferred action or deferred enforced deportation, will have little, if any, impact on sex trafficking victims, domestic violence victims or refugees from war zones. The U.S. Congress has addressed these circumstances and has provided specific remedies in the Immigration and Nationality Act. Persons eligible for these forms of relief provided pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act are also eligible for Employment Authorization Cards with category codes that ADOT will continue to accept as primary form of identification for obtaining a driver license.

For sex trafficking victims, these Employment Authorization Card codes are accepted by ADOT:

• T Visa (A16), U Visa (A19), Temporary Protected Status (A12), Adjustment of Status (C9) and Parole (C11)

For domestic violence victims, these Employment Authorization Card codes are accepted by ADOT:

• Relief pursuant to the Violence Against Women Act (available to men and women) (C31), Temporary Protected Status (A12), Adjustment of Status (C9) and Parole (C11)

For refugees, these Employment Authorization Card codes are accepted by ADOT:

• Refugee (A3), Asylee (A5), Asylum (C8), Temporary Protected Status (A12), Adjustment of Status (C9) and Parole (C11)

Those immigrants must apply through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to obtain an Employment Authorization Card with a category code that is accepted.

Deferred action is simply the decision not to enforce immigrations laws. When an individual is granted relief under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, deferred action or deferred enforced departure, that individual remains subject to removal proceedings pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act. An individual granted one of these forms of relief therefore does not have authorized presence under federal law. The federal executive branch has simply decided not to enforce federal immigration law with respect to that individual and to defer the removal of that individual for a period of time.

The purported 40,000 figure referenced in media reports encompasses all issuances and renewals using all forms of Employment Authorization Cards during an eight-year time period. Most of these forms of Employment Authorization Cards remain acceptable as a primary form of identification. Those cards with the categories A11 (Deferred Enforced Departure), C14 (Deferred Action) and C33 (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) are just a subset of the several forms of Employment Authorization Cards; it is only these three categories of Employment Authorization Cards that ADOT will no longer accept as a primary form of identification for purposes of demonstrating lawful presence.

Having recognized that Employment Authorization Cards with the A11, C14 and C33 category codes do not demonstrate authorized presence under federal law, ADOT has determined that the proper course in order to comply with Arizona law is to revise its policy so that these Employment Authorization Cards are no longer accepted. If ADOT continued to accept these Employment Authorization Cards, it could subject ADOT to additional lawsuits aimed at attempting to force ADOT to issue licenses to others who are ineligible under Arizona law.