Texas Home School Coalition » Concerning Driver License (DPS)

DPS Questions Home School Family

Tim Lambert — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 22:43:19 +0000

While certain documentation requirements are placed on those attempting to obtain a driver permit, including home schoolers, the Department of Public Safety employees do not have a right to question home schoolers regarding how long they have been home schooling, what curriculum is used in their home school, or other extended questioning.

Recently a THSC Association member family who was attempting to obtain a driver permit for their daughter encountered a DPS employee who questioned them beyond what is required or needed. Tim Lambert responded with a letter, clarifying the rights of this home school family.

Read the entire letter.

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DPS Letter Regarding Publication of Collision Rate Statistics

Tim Lambert — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:43:04 +0000

This letter is in response to Tim Lambert’s inquiry regarding the publication of collision rate statistics as required by HB 339, from the 81st Legislature.

Texas Department of Public Safety
5805 N. Lamar Blvd * Box 4087
Austin, TX 78773-0001
512/424-2000
www.txdps.state.tx.us

March 17, 2011

Tim Lambert
Texas Home School Coalition
PO Box 6747
Lubbock, TX 79493

Dear Mr. Lambert,

This letter is in response to your inquiry regarding the publication of collision rate statistics as required by HB 339, from the 81st Legislature.

Based on discussions with you and Representative Phillips office, the intent of the legislature was clarified and it was determined that changes would be needed in order to provide a comprehensive collision rate report.

Deployment of the new Driver License System (DLS) began April 2009 and completed May 2010. The DLS captures driver education by provider type (i.e. high school, commercial and parent taught), however not at entity level (i.e. specific high school or commercial business). As with any information technology (IT) project of this scope, the numerous critical system issues identified after implementation requires dedicated efforts for solutions that have consumed our IT resources. As a result, programming changes needed to comply with bills that passed during the 81st Legislative Session were significantly delayed.

Providing the entity level of data will require a significant programming change to our DLS system, however the system changes needed to comply with HB 339 have been approved and we anticipate that programming will be complete by August 2011. We plan to publish a full collision rate report on October 1, 2012 including driver education provider type and individual entities.

The Department is dedicated to increasing the safety for all drivers, including teens and understands that the collision rate information provided by this report will provide parents with another tool to make an informed decision on how to proceed with teaching their children how to drive.

If you have additional comments or have questions, please contact me at 512-424-2769 or by email sheri.gipson@txdps.state.tx.us.

Sincerely,

Sheri Gipson
Driver License Division

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Letter to DPS Drivers License Division – February 24, 2011

Tim Lambert — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:10:48 +0000

Tim sent a letter to the Public Safety Commission chairman regarding a memorandum that advised DPS officials against adhering to policies passed in the 2009 Texas legislature regarding the allowance of parent-taught driver courses for individuals age 18-24.

Read the Letter.

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Response from the Department of Public Safety – May 2010

Tim Lambert — Sat, 08 May 2010 01:46:48 +0000

The assistant director of the Driver License Division responded to Tim’s correspondence with a letter stating that after review of the law, the DPS came to the conclusion that accepting Parent-Taught Driver Education certificates of completion from someone over the age of 18 does not hinder the driver license policy and that a memorandum will be sent to all DPS offices instructing them to accept such certificates.

Read the Letter.

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Letter to DPS Driver License Division – April 21, 2010

Tim Lambert — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:23:38 +0000

Tim sent a letter to the deputy assistant director of the Diver License Division, addressing recent comments regarding the implementation of HB 339, passed by the Texas legislature in 2009—specifically, the requirement to collect statistical data for the purpose of tracking and publishing the collision rates of students from each driver education school or course.

Read the Letter.

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Letter to the Department of Public Safety

Tim Lambert — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:28:36 +0000

When a story in the Houston Chronicle reported that DPS officials were considering interpreting the word “entity” in HB 339 to mean “a whole group,” Tim Lambert wrote to the chief of the Driver License Division of the Department of Public Safety. He urged the chief to adhere to the original intent of the legislation and interpret “entity” as “each school or program.” HB 339 deals with the collection of collision rates from each driver education school or course.

Read the Letter.

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