DMV Wins Prestigious State, National Awards

ALBANY, NY (06/16/2009)(readMedia)-- Commissioner David J. Swarts of the Department of Motor Vehicles today announced that several Agency personnel and offices within the DMV have earned prestigious awards for major accomplishments in the areas of cyber security, technology and intergovernmental collaboration, and public information.

"The dedication and commitment to excellence by DMV personnel is unparalleled and I am pleased that they have been recognized on both the state and national level for their efforts," Commissioner Swarts said. "The awards are well-deserved. These employees strive with their colleagues every day to better serve our customers and make our highways safer for the benefit of all New Yorkers."

On June 2, Information Security Officer Marilyn MacBride received the first New York State Cyber Security Award, presented by the New York State Office of Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Coordination (CSCIC). The award was presented to Ms. MacBride in recognition of her contributions to cyber security awareness efforts at DMV, for sharing her expertise through the New York State Security Officers Forum, and for participating in cyber security training efforts and policy reviews.

On June 1 the DMV's Enhanced Driver License Project Team was named the recipient of the 2009 American Council for Technology's Intergovernmental Solutions Award for its work to produce the new Enhanced Driver License (EDL). The Team was selected over 25 other finalists for this award, beating out such other nominees as the President-elect's transition website, the Department of Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The EDL project was one of the Department's largest efforts in recent memory and included more than 100 people working collaboratively to produce the new travel document. The EDL is an alternative to a passport or other federally recognized document that is able to be utilized as proof of identity at select land and sea border crossings as well as for air travel within the U.S. To date, more than 100,000 EDL applications have been processed.

DMV also received recently the annual Public Affairs and Consumer Education Excellence (PACE) award from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators' (AAMVA). The PACE award recognized the Department's 2008 grant-funded "Be Smart. Drive Smart" highway safety campaign. The campaign included television and radio commercials with the theme "Didn't See That Coming" to remind young drivers that driving under the influence, speeding and driving while distracted can turn times of joy into needless tragedies. The campaign also included posters, more than 550 billboards that were displayed throughout the state, digital billboards and other items with the "Be Smart. Drive Smart" message that were distributed at schools, driver safety programs and other safety events statewide.

The DMV also was a finalist for a NORI Award presented by the 300-member Albany Advertising Club for its "Didn't See That Coming" public service television commercial. The commercial was produced in conjunction with Working Pictures, an Albany-based advertising agency. The television commercial was aired statewide nearly 3,000 times in partnership with the New York State Broadcasters Association.

For more information on EDLs or to view any of the award winning traffic safety materials, please visit www.nysdmv.com or SafeNY.com.

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