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For Immediate Release: Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011
For More Information: Debra Hillmer, Director, Division of Motor Vehicles,
605-773-3541
Division of Motor Vehicles Implementing Changes for Better Government Initiative
PIERRE, S.D. – The Division of Motor Vehicles in the South Dakota Department of Revenue is implementing changes as part of Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s Better Government Initiative to cut red tape, make state government more efficient and open, and bolster online e-government.
The division has identified two areas where better use of technology will provide increased efficiency and the potential for significant cost savings.
First, the division is offering an option to vehicle owners to get their motor vehicle registration renewal reminders by email instead of the postcards currently sent by regular mail.
“Mailed notices played a major part in the implementation of the online renewal system, but email notices will save money,” said Motor Vehicles Division Director Deb Hillmer. “Vehicle owners can select their reminder preference, either email notification or a mailed postcard, and they can even opt out of the notification process entirely if they want.”
Hillmer indicates vehicle owners wanting to change their notification preference can do so online through the “Remind Me” icon at http://sdcars.org/ or at their county treasurer’s office.
In addition, the division has discontinued the mailing of the lienholder notice of filing when the motor vehicle title is being mailed to the lienholder of record.
Previously, when a title was mailed to the lienholder of record, a second mailing of the lienholder notice of filing was also mailed to the lienholder. The result was two separate envelopes being mailed to the same location.
“Early in September, Gov. Daugaard forwarded to me a suggestion received from a constituent,” Hillmer said. “The writer logically pointed out the savings to the State in both postage and supplies if the motor vehicle title and the notice are mailed together.”
While that solution was reviewed by the division in the past, Hillmer points out that it would have required changing an automated process to a manual process. That would have been neither efficient nor cost-effective.
Hillmer took the constituent suggestion one step further and entirely eliminated mailing of the lienholder notice of filing. The lien-release information and form provided on the lienholder notice of filing is available on the division website’s forms section at http://www.state.sd.us/drr2/motorvehicle/forms.htm
“The form can be completed online and printed for the necessary signatures and is available 24/7,” continued Hillmer. “Anyone who does not have Internet access can either obtain the form from the county treasurer’s office or call us and we’ll be happy to mail it out.”
As both changes are put in place, Hillmer expects a cumulative savings in excess of $100,000 annually. The actual amount is dependent on the number of motor vehicle owners electing to receive renewal reminders by email, she said.
Division personnel will continue to review daily operations to identify other areas where efficiencies and cost-savings can be introduced, Hillmer said.
For more information, contact the South Dakota Division of Motor Vehicles at 605-773-3541 or visit its website at http://www.state.sd.us/drr2/revenue.html or http://sdcars.org/
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