Driver communication improvement program; expands program, drivers with autism spectrum disorder.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details about how the DMV will notify individuals or what exact information must be included in the envelope beyond basic requirements.

Driver Communication Improvement Program Expansion

This bill expands a program that provides special envelopes to drivers with disabilities that can impair communication during interactions with law enforcement.

What This Bill Does

• Expands the driver communication improvement program to include drivers with any disability that can impair communication, not just those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
• Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to provide these special envelopes upon request without requiring proof of a disability.
• Specifies that the DMV must meet certain requirements for the design and content of the envelopes, including clear statements about the driver's condition and instructions for law enforcement officers.
• Allows drivers to include additional information in the envelope about their communication needs.
• Requires the DMV to notify specific groups of people about this program and provide them with instructions on how to request these special envelopes.

Who It Names or Affects

• Drivers with disabilities that can impair communication, including those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
• Law enforcement officers who interact with drivers during traffic stops or accidents.
• The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) which will manage and distribute the special envelopes.

Terms To Know

Communication Disability

A condition that affects a person's ability to communicate effectively, as defined by Virginia law.

Driver Communication Improvement Program

A program managed by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) aimed at helping drivers with communication disabilities during interactions with law enforcement.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how the DMV will notify individuals about the program or provide instructions for requesting envelopes.
• It is unclear what specific information must be included in the envelope beyond basic requirements like vehicle registration and insurance details.

Official Summary Text

Department of Motor Vehicles; driver communication improvement program.
Expands the driver communication improvement plan for the promotion, printing, and distribution of envelopes for use by drivers diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder to allow use by drivers with a disability that can impair communication, which, as defined by current law, includes persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The bill requires the Department of Motor vehicles to (i) meet certain specifications for such envelopes, (ii) provide such envelopes on request without requiring a person to identify or provide proof of a disability, and (iii) notify certain persons of the program and provide instructions for requesting such envelopes.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to amend and reenact §
46.2-203.3
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Motor Vehicles; driver communication improvement program.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
46.2-203.3
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
46.2-203.3
. Driver communication improvement program.

The Department shall develop and implement a program for the promotion, printing, and distribution of envelopes for use by drivers
diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
with a disability that can impair communication
, as that term is defined in §

38.2-3418.17

46.2-600.1
, to provide to a law-enforcement officer for the purpose of easing communication during a traffic stop or upon such law-enforcement officer's arrival at the scene of a traffic accident. Such envelope
may
shall
(i) clearly state that the driver
has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
may have a disability that can impair communication
and have printed directions for law-enforcement officers on best practices for interacting with such driver; (ii) provide space for more information to be written about the driver's communication needs; (iii) be of a sufficient size to fit a vehicle registration card, vehicle insurance card, and emergency contact information; and (iv) have printed directions instructing the driver to place his proof of vehicle registration and insurance in the envelope and provide such envelope and his driver's license to law enforcement if he is ever involved in a traffic stop or traffic accident.

The Department shall
make such envelopes available upon request. No person shall be required to identify or provide proof of a disability to receive such envelope. The Department shall
not collect or store information identifying any person who has requested or received such envelope, except any information necessary to distribute such envelope to the requestor. No such information shall be stored in any form after the distribution of such envelope is complete.

The Department shall notify any vehicle owner who has indicated that he has a disability that can impair communication pursuant to §
46.2-600.1
and any driver with a driver's license indicator authorized pursuant to subsection K of §
46.2-342
of the program
established
pursuant to this section and provide instructions
for
requesting such envelopes
.

Nothing herein shall require the Department to verify any information provided on the envelope. No action taken by any person, whether private citizen or public officer or employee, with regard to any information provided on the envelope shall create a warranty of the reliability or accuracy of the document, nor shall it create any liability on the part of the Commonwealth or of any department, office, or agency or of any officer, employee, or agent thereof.