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P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
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Fax: 208.334.8563

 


National magazine prints article by ITD's Jerri Hunter

Idaho's Perspective: IRP Technology Then and Now

Note: Jerri Hunter, IRP Supervisor ITD’s Division of Motor Vehicles, wrote the following article. It appeared in the winter edition of MOVE, a magazine for motor vehicle and law enforcement professionals. It is printed by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) based in Pennsylvania.)
 
Idaho’s IRP technology has drastically changed over the years. Idaho joined the International Registration Plan in 1976, and until 1985, we had a very cumbersome transmittal process.
 
Then, Idaho implemented an automated system to process IRP registrations, requiring a separate monitor and keyboard so each employee had two “dumb terminals” on their desk. The process was extremely slow compared to today’s standards. In the early 1990’s we implemented a second version of the system, which eliminated the need for two monitors and keyboards.
 
When IRP, Inc. was established in 1994, we did not have e-mail, nor a Web site (I’m not sure we even knew what a Web site was back then), and the Clearinghouse was beyond our wildest dreams. We had one fax machine but customers were not permitted to fax most documents to us; all transactions were processed by mail or walk-in. 
 
In 1999, we joined the IRP Clearinghouse and life has been grand ever since. The Clearinghouse, in my opinion, is the best invention since the paperclip and only continues to improve. As more jurisdictions joined the Clearinghouse, we no longer needed to issue as many paper transmittals, which significantly reduced our printing costs and time spent on the transmittal process.
 
In addition to the Clearinghouse, the IRP, Inc. Web site eliminated the need to keep all information in hard-copy format. For years Idaho had a two-page document called the “Handy Dandy Chart.”
 
This chart listed all the IRP jurisdictions and their specific requirements such as maximum gross weight, credit policies, registration and grace periods, etc. Each year, we would mail a copy of the current chart to every IRP jurisdiction asking for updates.
 
Not everyone responded, and of those that did respond, the answers were sometimes incomplete and, on occasion, incorrect. Now, we have one convenient, paperless location to visit with current, accurate information.
 
Do I feel that my jurisdiction’s IRP, Inc. membership dues are well used? Absolutely. I do not know of any other organization that places such a high importance on being responsible and accountable to their membership as well as sharing information. 

Published 2-27-9