NEW LEGISLATION: The Legislature passed a bill to re-enact Florida’s No-Fault Insurance Law with an effective date of January 1, 2008. The bill also provides the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) with authority to suspend the driving privilege of anyone who does not have property damage liability insurance effective October 11, 2007. While drivers will not be required to purchase personal injury protection until January, all drivers should maintain proof of property damage liability or face sanctioning by DHSMV. The bill was signed into law by Governor Crist on October 11, 2007. For more information, please visit: http://www.fldfs.com

NATIONAL TEEN DRIVER SAFETY WEEK: On Tuesday, October 16, the Florida Cabinet will declare by resolution this week as Florida Teen Driver Safety Week. This follows a national effort, which is intended to inspire dialogue within communities - among teenagers, between teens and their parents, among parents, and among civic leaders - about the causes of and solutions to crashes, the leading cause of death for young people in the U.S. Florida is home to more than 800,000 teen drivers and last year, more than 37,000 teenage drivers were involved in crashes. We recently produced the Florida Drivers Guide for Teens and Parents and web pages with information on Teen Safety Programs www.hsmv.state.fl.us/teens/ . Please help us promote safe teen driving!

OFFICE HOURS:All driver license offices are open 5 days a week. Our offices across the State are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On Tuesday and Thursday the offices will open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Selected offices also open on Saturday – service is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

GET AN APPOINTMENT, BE PREPARED!: We urge all those customers who must visit one of our offices to renew, replace or file a change of address to their driver license or identification card to secure an appointment prior to their visit. Customers can select the best day and time suited to their needs. Connect via Internet to http://oasis.hsmv.state.fl.us/ (Online Appointment Service and Information System) for an appointment to greatly reduce the waiting time. Then link to on-line pre-application and complete it before coming in to one of our offices.

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION: This service will allow you to provide contact information to law enforcement in the event of an emergency. This information may save crucial time if ever it becomes necessary to contact family members, or other loved ones. This service is only available to individuals holding a current Florida Driver License or Florida Identification Card. Please visit the following site to register: www.hsmv.state.fl.us

U.S. PERMANENT RESIDENTS / RENEW ONLINE: Those legal U.S. permanent residents who have been issued a Florida driver license or identification card are able to use our online services to renew, file a change of address and more. Once the supporting USCIS documents have been scanned and verified, those granted U.S. permanent resident status and who hold a Florida DL or ID can take advantage of our convenient online services. Please visit: www.GoRenew.com or in Spanish at www.MiLicencia.Info to take advantage of our Internet service. Those who prefer to secure an appointment via the telephone, please call the local driver licenses office.

NON-IMMIGRANTS AND CANADIANS: The issuance limit of a driver license or ID card has been modified for Non-Immigrants or Canadian in Florida. Non-Immigrants and Canadian citizens will receive a driver license or ID for a period not to exceed the expiration date of the USCIS document presented or one calendar year, whichever occurs first. Current identification and legal presence requirements remain in effect. All driver licenses and identification cards issued in Florida to non-immigrants and Canadian citizens include the word "TEMPORARY" printed in the bottom right corner.

INFORMATION IN SPANISH: Information in Spanish about Florida driver licenses and identification cards is available on www.hsmv.state.fl.us/Spanish/ddl/. To contact us, go to our contact page.

Buckle up your seatbelt!