DMV Walnut Creek

In the United States, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is a state-level government agency that manages vehicle registration and driver licensing. Similar departments exist under different names in Canada. The name “DMV” is not used in any state or area, nor are traditional DMV functions managed by a single agency in any state, but the generic term is widely understood, particularly in the context of driver’s license issuance and renewal.

In the United States, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is a state-level government agency that manages vehicle registration and driver licensing. Similar departments exist under different names in Canada. The name “DMV” is not used in any state or area, nor are traditional DMV functions managed by a single agency in any state, but the generic term is widely understood, particularly in the context of driver’s license issuance and renewal.

Almost all long-term residents(‘ long-term’ in this case means more than 30 days) of a state wishing to operate motor vehicles must have a driver’s license issued by their state DMV, and their vehicles must have license plates (and current registration plates or stickers) issued by that agency.

Active duty service members of the armed forces are an exception to this general rule; under federal law, service members do not change legal residence when moving to a new duty station unless they take voluntary action to do so. These individuals have the option of retaining the license and vehicle registration of their legal residence or of obtaining a new license and registration locally. Some states have also allowed out – of-state college students to retain their existing licences and/or registrations. Vehicles owned by the federal government registry, not the state, but the General Services Administration. Drivers of these vehicles must still be licensed in their home country, however.

U.S. Office of Foreign Missions The Department of State has a Diplomatic Motor Vehicles program that issues driver’s licenses to foreign diplomats and their dependants, registers their vehicles and issues special diplomatic license plates.

Compared to standard law enforcement officers, DMV law enforcement officers operate more flexibly when it comes to their specific police powers. If a person under investigation by the DMV refuses to answer questions or meets with DMV law enforcement officers, their registration and tags may be cancelled. Although a citizen has a constitutional right not to speak or meet with sworn law enforcement officers while under investigation, there is no constitutional right to protect a person’s motor vehicle registration with a state agency. Another example of this flexibility of police powers can be found in the policies of many states regarding suspected DUI offenders. If a person is stopped by the police on suspicion of driving while being impaired and refuses to take a blood alcohol test, the DMV will automatically revoke that person’s license for one year. Even if the evidence of that person’s impairment is found to be insufficient in the trial, the individual loses his driving privileges simply for refusing the sobriety test.