CONNECTIONS

IDAHO
ITD HOME
IDAHO DMV
ITD NEWS
HIGHWAY SAFETY
IDAHO STATE POLICE
TRAVEL SERVICES
STATE OF IDAHO

NATIONAL
AASHTO
AAMVA
AAA of IDAHO
FEDERAL HIGHWAYS
FEDERAL AVIATION
IDAHO STATE POLICE
NHTSA
NTSB
TRB
U.S. DOT

 

Idaho Transportation
Department
Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
Email


Former DMV administrator Moe Detmar
receives AAMVA Lifetime Achievement award

Moe Detmar, who retired as administrator of the Division of Motor Vehicles in 2004 recently received one of the highest honors bestowed by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).

He joins an elite group of Lifetime Achievement recipients. The award was announced in August.

Detmar introduced a number of initiatives that improved customer service and delivered DMV services more efficiently to Idaho motorists. He worked in the division 27 years, the last nine as administrator.

“I tried to develop a reasonability in decision making,” he said before retiring in June 2004. “I’ve always been driven by the question ‘what is the right thing to do in this situation.’

“I’m a retail grocer by training prior to government. I had to have customers or I wouldn’t have a business. If a customer wanted Twinkies, I had to make sure we had Twinkies on the shelf.

“I learned very early that we couldn’t make decisions and announce ‘this is the way it is.’ Our model is to offer as many options as possible. I’m convinced that people want to comply; we want to make it as easy as possible for them to comply instead of forcing them.”

Customer service is the common element of most DMV changes implemented during his watch. Among them were:

  • Digital drivers licenses
  • Graduated licenses for young drivers
  • The “One Stop Shop” delivery of services to commercial truck owners and operators
  • Electronic lien filing
  • Way-in-motion technology at two Ports of Entry
  • Updated Ports of Entry facilities
  • A broadly embraced, employee-driven, employee recognition program, “Praising and Promoting Kowalitdy” that bestows quarterly awards for YES (Your Excellence Shows), Quality Service and Quality Time
  • Electronic access to drivers’ records for authorized constituents
  • Internet registration/renewal
  • Registration and licensing at auto dealers
  • Online services for commercial carriers in partnership with Access Idaho, the state’s Internet service provider, and
  • A customer complaint process (he reads every letter of criticism)

Detmar’s efforts will have lasting impacts on his agency,” according to an article that appeared in the latest edition of MOVE Magazine produced by AAMVA, announcing his selection. “He was very active in AAMVA leadership, serving as 2002-2003 Region IV President and as a board member for eight years.”

Detmar served on numerous AAMVA committees, including the Collegiate Plate Working Group, the Audit Committee and the Government Affairs Committee.

He followed the retirement lead of his wife Mary, who closed her ITD career in 2003, retiring as manager of the Budget, Policy and Intergovernmental Relations office.

Published 9-1-06