Jobless Rate Drops in Pennsylvania Trend Expected To Continue

More jobs and lower unemployment over last three months mean your future employer will be checking your driving record.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the unemployment rate has dropped nationally and especially in Pennsylvania. This was not an earth shattering percentage, but a trend over the last three months. From a September high of 8.4 percent down to a new 7-month low of 7.4 percent. Dropping a full percentage point may not feel like much, but it is a far cry from states like California (11.1%) Florida (9.9%) Michigan (9.3%) or even the national average (8.5%). This drop in unemployment over the last 3 months means that PA is gaining jobs, and work is becoming available to those seeking it in Pennsylvania. However, there are still a lot of people out of work, so getting that job is harder than ever.

I mention this good news on my driver's license blog because now is a great time to make sure you are in the best position to secure these jobs as they become available. The usual checklist of items applies like, make sure you have an updated resume, and be sure you practice interviewing skills, but one of the most important factors is your PA driving record. Employers are being more selective when choosing who to hire, and they started digging even further into your background to ensure they are hiring the best person available. This means your PennDOT driving record, credit report, and online profile (Facebook, Twitter) are all fair game to hiring managers reviewing your job application.

In rough economic times you have choices to make on where to spend your fading funds, and in these times it is not a tough choice to let a traffic ticket, or even your car insurance slip through the cracks. In Pennsylvania these things can cause a suspension on your driver's license, and leave a black mark on your PennDOT driving record. Once one a hiring manager sees this, your resume or job application gets rejected, and you don't get hired. Don't let an issue with your driving record prevent you from improving our unemployment rate, every job counts!

First you need to request your Restoration Requirements Letter by contacting PennDOT if you are facing a license suspension. This free letter will outline what needs to be done according to PennDOT to get your license restored. The big issues are indefinite suspension and term suspensions. Indefinite suspensions can be cleared by responding to the court or agency listed. Usually these are minor traffic tickets that will result in no action or points being assessed (your employer will not see your point total on your record). You should however, be careful of more serious violations that may result in license suspension, enhanced points (3 or more points) and possible jail or other criminal penalties. According to License Restoration Services, violations like "no insurance" or "driving with a suspended registration" or "driving under suspension" are big red flags to name a few, and "you should always check with a professional prior to taking any action on moving violations" to avoid surprises like additional license suspension or increased penalties.

Once your current issues have been cleared and your PA drivers license restored, you can work on clearing past issues that might hinder your application process. Some of the issues are older major violations that may cause an employer to worry about you being "too much of a risk" or even mistakes made by PennDOT that could hurt you without you having done anything wrong. It is usually too late to fix this problems once the hiring manager has your resume or application. That job is lost. So the next step is critical for everyone, no matter if you think you have an issue or not.

Request your driving record! Getting your driving record from PennDOT is easy. You can request it online or through the internet. Getting your full driving history costs a total of $5 and will show you every violation from the date you were first issued a license number from PennDOT. These notations should be reviewed for both accuracy and impact. Once the timeline has been reviewed a professional can assist in determining if action is needed to prevent issues with prospective employers.

Armed with this game-plan you will put yourself in better position to secure employment and take advantage of the new jobs opening in Pennsylvania. As our economy recovers the number of residents going back to work will increase, but employers are expected to be very selective in who they hire, as there are still many out of work. Ensuring you have a clean record, and are capable of reliable transportation to your job will go a long way in keeping your job application and resume on the top of the pile!

Figures and inspiration courtesy of WSJ

Jail Time Possible For Serious Moving Violations & Traffic Tickets

Moving Violations and Traffic Tickets can result in much more than license suspension and fines. Jail time is a possibility with some "more serious" traffic and vehicle violations. I previously wrote about going to jail for driving under suspension violations.

I was recently contacted about someone who was convicted of a violation for 75-7122 Altered, Forged or Counterfeit Plates and Documents. Asking about getting a work license or OLL in PA. Well this charge is an automatic disqualification for a PA Work License, and more importantly it is a very serious offence. PA Vehicle Code 75-7122 is graded as a M1 or misdemeanor level 1. This violation carries with it up to 5 years in prison, a criminal record, as well as a year of driver's license suspension without the availability of a limited license.

The license suspension should be secondary to to criminal penalties of the violation including the criminal record that goes along with this violation. So assuming that because most traffic tickets are summary offences, or very minor in the grand scheme, you have to be aware that there are some more serious issues that could arise. Some other violations that can lead to more panalties other than license suspension or points would be;

75- 3733 Fleeing or Eluding Police - Misdemeanor Level 2 - up to Felony 3

75- 3742 Accidents Involving Injury or Leaving the Scene - Misdemeanor 2 up to Felony 3

75- 3732 Homicide By Vehicle - Felony 3 AND 3 Years of License Suspension

This listing is not comprehensive, and are only a few off the top of my head. In these cases your best bet is to speak to an expert and find out all of the applicable penalties and options. As you can see from the limited examples above, there are some violations that carry very severe penalties, including jail for driving under suspension, and these violations should never be taken lightly.




To clarify, you need to understand the differences between a Summary Violation (most traffic tickets) a Misdemeanor (more serious violations - jail time) and the most serious Felony (usually mandatory jail time and increased fines and license suspension)

Under Pennsylvania Criminal Laws, all criminal offenses fall into the following classifications. There are Felonies with three tiers (Felony Tier 1, Felony Tier 2, Felony Tier 3), for which the maximum penalties are:
Felony Tier 1: Up to 20 years in prison
Felony Tier 2: Up to 10 years in prison
Felony Tier 3: Up to 7 years in prison.

There are also 3 Tiers of Misdemeanors (Misdemeanor Tier 1, Misdemeanor Tier 2, Misdemeanor Tier 3), for which the maximum penalties under PA law if found guilty, are:
Misdemeanor T1: Up to 5 years in prison
Misdemeanor T2: Up to 3 years in prison
Misdemeanor T3: Up to 1 year in prison

The lesser category is what is known as a summary offense. If you are found guilty of a summary offense, you face up to 90 days in jail as a maximum penalty for jail. There may be other monetary and suspension times that go with a conviction for a summary offense or traffic ticket.

PennDOT and PA Police Partner to Keep Holiday Travelers Safe On The Road

From the PennDOT press release just a reminder to be safe during your holiday travels this year. The holiday travel season always sees an increase in accidents and you can also expect more traffic tickets as police and state officials attempt to keep those accidents down and drivers safe.

PennDOT, Police Partner to Keep Holiday Season Travel Safe
		11/17/2011
	Enforcement to Focus on Impaired, Aggressive Driving and Seat Belt Use Harrisburg – PennDOT and police across Pennsylvania will partner for "Operation Safe Holiday," an aggressive effort to keep travelers safe this holiday season. Through early January, police will use sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols and regular traffic safety patrols to crack down on motorists who are speeding, driving aggressively or driving while impaired. Pennsylvania will also conduct Click It or Ticket seat-belt enforcement from Nov. 18 to Dec. 4. "With more vehicles on our roadways, motorists must be especially vigilant during the holiday travel season," said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. "Travelers should buckle up, drive safely, avoid distractions and never drive impaired." PennDOT reports that Thanksgiving continues to be the leading holiday for traffic crashes. There were 4,380 crashes and 55 fatalities last year during that period, which includes the weekends before and after the holiday. Of those, 535 crashes were alcohol-related. During the Christmas and New Year travel periods, there were a combined 2,035 crashes and 19 fatalities. PennDOT encourages motorists to make sure they are well-rested and alert before traveling. Travelers should also rotate drivers and take frequent breaks. Motorists should allow extra time for travel and expect to encounter traffic delays. As weather and road conditions can worsen quickly at this time of year, motorists should always check the forecast for their entire route and make sure their vehicle is equipped with a winter emergency kit and tires with good traction. Weather and travel information for more than 2,900 miles of state roads is available by calling 511 or visiting www.511pa.com before leaving home. Learn more about Operation Safe Holiday by visiting www.DriveSafePA.org. Follow PennDOT on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PennDOTNews.

PennDOT Drivers License enhanced security features get one step closer to Federal Real-ID

PennDOT Drivers License enhanced security features overview.

PennDOT began using a new driver's license & ID security feature on December 5, 2011. This new license and ID security feature can be used to ensure valid identification to those tasked with checking ID. Pennsylvania is the first state to use this security feature on Driver's License and ID cards. This verification will not show a suspended driver's license status, but only prove that the license was issued by the state and is not a fake license or fake ID. You can get the new ID by going to your closest PennDOT License Center found here.

WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
The new security feature is a black and white hologram, wherein “PA” sits inside the Keystone symbol surrounded by a circle. To view a sample driver’s license with the new security feature, visit PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website at www.dmv.state.pa.us under the Identity/Security Information Center.

WHY IS PENNDOT ADDING THIS NEW SECURITY FEATURE?
With an already impressive array of security features, PennDOT added this new element to driver’s  licenses and photo IDs in order to provide a quick, easy form of identification verification - even under limited light - to bars, banks, law enforcement and others. An on-going process, the addition of this  latest feature is indicative of PennDOT’s efforts to improve security and to mitigate counterfeiting while providing a security feature that people can easily see.

WHERE WILL THE NEW LICENSE & ID SECURITY FEATURE BE PLACED ON THE DRIVER’S LICENSE/IDENTIFICATION  CARDS?
The new security feature includes two symbols that will be placed over both photo images on the  driver’s license and identification card.

WHAT IS SO UNIQUE ABOUT THE NEW PENNSYLVANIA DRIVER'S LICENSE/ID SECURITY ELEMENT?
Produced by state-of-the-art holographic technology; this feature is designed to suppress the color  spectrum "rainbow" of normal holography. The result is the striking effect of a black versus white hologram  at high resolution. The black and white areas reverse when viewing angle is changed by 90 degrees and  is visible in bright, moderate and low-light environments.

HOW WILL I KNOW IF I HAVE A DRIVER’S LICENSE/IDENTIFICATION CARD WITH THE NEW FEATURE?

• View the driver’s license or photo identification so that the Pennsylvania Keystone can be seen. Note that the feature is colorless and appears black and white. Without changing the angle of the viewing, rotate the card 90 degrees left or right.
• The black and white elements will switch; the black becoming white and the white becoming black within the design. 
• For night time or low light authentication, use a flashlight held at about a 30 to 60 degree angle to the card surface so that the feature appears.
• Rotate either the card or the flashlight 90 degrees and the feature will switch the black and white elements within its design.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE A PENNSYLVANIA DRIVER’S LICENSE/IDENTIFICATION CARD WITH THE NEW FEATURE?
Since Pennsylvania driver’s licenses and identification cards are issued on a four-year cycle, it will take four years for every Pennsylvania driver’s license/identification card holder to have a product with the new security feature.

IF I DON’T WANT TO WAIT UNTIL I RENEW, HOW DO I GET A PENNSYLVANIA DRIVER’S LICENSE/IDENTIFICATION CARD WITH THE NEW SECURITY FEATURE?
You can complete an Application for Change/Correction/Replacement of Non-Commercial Driver’s License (DL-80) or an Application to Replace/Correct Commercial Driver’s License (DL-80CD) and pay the applicable fee.  These applications can be downloaded from PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website or you may contact your local PennDOT License Center.

DO ANY OTHER STATES OR JURISDICTIONS USE THIS NEW SECURITY FEATURE ON DRIVER’S LICENSES OR PHOTO IDS?
No. Pennsylvania is the first state in the USA to use this new security feature on driver’s licenses and IDs.


This is a step in the right direction toward enhanced ID cards, or the US Real ID program. This will allow you to use a state issued ID as a replacement for a passport when travelling to certain destinations around the world. This will not show weather a driver's license has been suspended or revoked, it will also not allow someone to travel outside of the United States just yet.

The REAL ID Act, passed by the U.S. Congress in 2005, was an attempt to create nationwide minimum standards for states to issue driver’s licenses and ID cards. The law requires changes to state standards, procedures and requirements for the issuance of driver’s licenses and identification cards, if they are to be accepted as identity documents by the federal government.

The United States Department of Homeland Security (U.S. DHS) issued the final REAL ID regulations on Jan. 11, 2008. Under the final REAL ID regulations, only REAL ID-compliant driver’s license and identification cards were to be accepted for official federal purposes, i.e. boarding a commercial aircraft, entering a nuclear power plant or federal facility that requires identification on or after the original full compliance deadline of May 11, 2008, unless states requested and were granted an initial extension by the U.S. DHS. Pennsylvania was granted an initial extension to complete an analysis of the final regulations and to determine whether the commonwealth would participate in REAL ID. This allowed Pennsylvania residents to continue using PA driver’s licenses and identification cards as ID for official federal purposes through Dec. 31, 2009.

Pennsylvania requested a second extension in November 2009. The U.S. DHS granted the commonwealth the second extension in December 2009 to implement the federal REAL ID Act, which allowed Pennsylvania residents to continue using PA driver’s licenses and identification cards as ID for official federal purposes, as defined above, to May 10, 2011.

Requesting and being granted the two extensions by U.S. DHS did not commit the commonwealth to comply with the REAL ID Act.

In March 2011, the U.S. DHS announced that the deadline for full compliance with the REAL ID Act had been extended from May 10, 2011 to Jan. 15, 2013, which means Pennsylvania residents can continue using their PA driver’s licenses and identification cards as ID for official federal purposes through this date.

Regardless of what happens with REAL ID, Pennsylvania remains committed to continuously taking steps to enhance the security of its driver’s license and identification card products, processes and systems to mitigate fraud and identity theft.

Speeding Enforcement Nabs 228 With Help of Pennsylvania State Police

In late September the Upper Darby police targeted a section of Township Line road for specific speeding enforcement. This section of road has been a problem with speeders and unsafe drivers. The enforcement of the speeding laws was needed because of the problem with speeders in this specific area of Pennsylvania.

With the State Police operating the radar guns and the local Upper Darby police issuing the citations, the joint project of local and state police were able to stop 228 motorists for violating the stated speed limit by 15 MPH or more and issues citations that would result in fines and points on their license. 

Kudos to the joint effort of the police forces. They have done their jobs, they have stopped the violators, the drivers left that stop more aware of their driving habits. They did a great job stopping those 228 motorists, getting them pulled over and reminded of the laws they may have been breaking. Finding a problem area and protecting the public from a potential threat is exactly what our police forces should be doing. Thank You!

So far a large number of that in violation had their hearings and Judge Cullen has dismissed the charges with issuing these drivers a warning. Now Police Superintendant Michael Chitwood is upset that the judge took the action of issuing the warnings rather than finding guilt and taking fines from each of the drivers caught in the special targetted speed traps.

“To me, it’s irresponsible and unacceptable, especially when you’re dealing with public safety and potential injury that can be caused by speeding,” Chitwood said. “It’s ridiculous to throw 56 tickets out when speeding is a major, major problem. Judge Cullen threw them all out, discharged them all, because there was no state trooper in the courtroom.

My concern is that the police are pushing too hard for punishment over enforcing the law and protecting the public. The rules are in place to protect us and give a guideline to punish the offender, and the judge is hired by voters to best decide how far those punishments need to go. In the case of these 228 tickets, the judge has decided, on 56 of them, that there was no reason to push the punishment further. The main reason given was the State trooper did not show for the hearings, and this was enough of a reason so far. Even if Judge Cullen dismisses the rest of the violators who request hearings, they have still doled out points and fines to those who did not, or could not, request hearings. This also made those who were stopped, slow down, pay attention, and become aware that their actions effect those around them. Still a big win, and sucking the fine money or adding points to their license was not necessary to get their point across for others to slow down and drive safe.

Chitwood’s letter to Williams cited the 30 pending speeding cases scheduled before Cullen on Dec. 6; six more are scheduled for Dec. 13. Fifteen additional tickets, initially scheduled for Nov. 29, will be continued to another date because Cullen will not be hearing cases that day.

What do you think? Should these speeders automatically be hit with all the penalties, or should we trust the judge to do what is in the best interest of the public in these cases?