NEWS RELEASE

TxDMV Board Appoints Daniel Avitia

Acting Executive Director

(AUSTIN, Texas – February 11, 2022) The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) Board voted to appoint Daniel Avitia as acting executive director during yesterday’s board meeting. Avitia joined TxDMV in 2014, as director of the Motor Vehicle Division, and was named deputy executive director in 2020. As deputy executive director he oversaw the daily operations of the agency’s finance, information technology, administrative hearings, human resources, and motor vehicle licensing divisions.

Shelly Mellott will continue in her role as deputy executive director. Mellott oversees the agency’s daily operations related to vehicle titling and registration, consumer relations, enforcement, motor carrier operations, and administrative functions for the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority.

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The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles registers and titles motor vehicles, licenses motor vehicle dealers, credentials motor carriers, issues oversize/overweight permits, investigates complaints against dealers and motor carriers, and awards grants to law enforcement agencies to reduce vehicle burglaries and thefts. Learn more at www.TxDMV.gov. Subscribe to receive TxDMV news releases via email or text message.

NEWS RELEASE

Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Announces

Departure of Executive Director

(AUSTIN, Texas – February 7, 2022) Whitney Brewster, Executive Director of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), today announced her resignation from the agency. Shelly Mellott, Deputy Executive Director, will serve as the Acting Interim Executive Director until the TxDMV Board is able to deliberate on a permanent replacement. This transition is effective immediately.

In announcing the transition to TxDMV staff, Director Brewster made the following statement:

“It is with heavy and mixed emotions that I write to you today to announce my departure from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. A decade ago, I returned to Texas to lead this amazing organization full of talented and dedicated public servants. I accepted a position with this still new state agency understanding that there would be challenges and difficulties ahead in providing consistent, responsive services to more than 25 million Texans.  In the years since, I have been constantly astounded and profoundly proud of the work you have all accomplished on behalf of the citizens and businesses of this great state.

Unfortunately, challenges and difficulties still face the state and our organization. I understand the frustrations of our stakeholders to the problems and evolving situations we are working daily to resolve. Often the hardest thing to do as a public servant leader is to step back and accept that you have done everything you can, and that it might be time to allow new leadership to take the reins and continue moving the agency successfully into the future. We have strong leadership at all levels throughout TxDMV and I have worked continuously to bring in and promote fresh perspectives and new ideas to compliment the experienced subject matter experts that we rely on to accomplish our mission and goals. 

As I step down from my position as Executive Director, I am pleased to announce that, effective immediately, Shelly Mellott, Deputy Executive Director, will serve as Acting Interim Executive Director until the board is able to deliberate on a permanent replacement. I am confident that Shelly’s experience and relationships throughout the department will ease this transition and serve you all in the coming days.

The hardest part of this transition is saying goodbye to all of you, knowing I will no longer be standing with you in the trenches and working daily towards a better Texas. I have confidence and take great comfort knowing that you will remain steadfast in our goal to provide exemplary and innovative customer service in our ever growing and changing state because you genuinely believe in what we do. You are true public servants, and it has been the privilege of a lifetime to be your executive director.  I know you will come together to support each other. One of the things that COVID-19 has made clear is how important it is to take care of each other and ourselves.  You will never be far from my thoughts, and I will always remain in your corner rooting for your success.

Do not doubt that there are great things ahead for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.”

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The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles registers and titles motor vehicles, licenses motor vehicle dealers, credentials motor carriers, issues oversize/overweight permits, investigates complaints against dealers and motor carriers, and awards grants to law enforcement agencies to reduce vehicle burglaries and thefts. Learn more at www.TxDMV.gov. Subscribe to receive TxDMV news releases via email or text message.

NEWS RELEASE

TxDMV Board Takes Action to Prevent the Fraudulent Production and Use of Temporary Tags

(AUSTIN, Texas – January 28, 2022) Stopping the fraudulent production and use of temporary tags is the top priority of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). During a specially called meeting on the issue yesterday, the TxDMV Board took decisive action to stop the fraudulent production and use of temporary tags by establishing limits on the number of temporary tags available to dealers and denying bad actors access to the temporary tag database as soon as fraudulent activity has been identified. These actions will have immediate effect, once filed with the Texas Register. TxDMV will begin using the new authority to deny bad actors access to the temporary tag system immediately.

The Board actions implement House Bill 3927, enacted by the Texas Legislature. The bill provides the legal authorization for TxDMV to take swifter action when fraud is identified and to reduce the potential number of tags at risk for illegal use. These tools will reduce the ability of criminals to print unlimited numbers of temporary tags for illegal purposes while ensuring legitimate dealers retain full access to temporary tags needed to support vehicle sales.

“We greatly appreciate the participation and input of the public and representatives of the motor vehicle industry in Texas as the department works to support our law enforcement partners throughout the state in reducing the illegal use of temporary tags,” said TxDMV Chairman Charles Bacarisse.

These processes were adopted by the Board as revisions to TxDMV administrative rules, following a period of public comment, input from the Motor Vehicle Industry Regulation Advisory Committee, and review by the Regulatory Compliance Division of the Office of the Governor.

The Board additionally directed TxDMV staff to continue pursuing ways to enhance the identification of individuals attempting to obtain a dealer license fraudulently. In the coming weeks, staff will review the department’s ability to institute processes to use fingerprinting and enhanced site visits during the license approval process and identify the rules and resources necessary to operationalize the measures. The agency will review ways to implement these and other activities that promote compliance with licensure requirements and the legitimate use of temporary tags without unduly burdening commerce and industry throughout the state.

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The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles registers and titles motor vehicles, licenses motor vehicle dealers, credentials motor carriers, issues oversize/overweight permits, investigates complaints against dealers and motor carriers, and awards grants to law enforcement agencies to reduce vehicle burglaries and thefts. Learn more at www.TxDMV.gov. Subscribe to receive TxDMV news releases via email or text message.

NEWS RELEASE

TxDMV Collaborates with Law Enforcement to Curtail Unlawful Use of Temporary Vehicle Tags

(AUSTIN, Texas – January 25, 2022) Stopping the fraudulent production and use of temporary tags is the top priority of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). Addressing this serious issue requires the ongoing collaboration of law enforcement, TxDMV staff, and state and local leadership.

Criminals are obtaining vehicle dealer licenses to fraudulently issue temporary tags to vehicles used in illegal activities in Texas and across the country. Some use the fraudulent tags themselves, while others sell tags through social media or in-person deals.

TxDMV is pursuing initiatives on multiple fronts to combat this illegal behavior. The most significant of which is the continuing consideration and adoption of administrative rules necessary to implement the provisions of House Bill 3927, passed during the 87th Regular Legislative Session. The bill provides the authority for TxDMV to limit the number of temporary tags available to licensed dealers and terminate access to temporary tags when the department identifies licensed dealers are involved in fraudulent activities. The TxDMV Board will consider these rules for immediate adoption at its upcoming special meeting on January 27.

As part of regular department operations, TxDMV works closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement to stop criminal activity related to temporary tags. Collaboration with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office recently resulted in numerous arrests in Montgomery County. The department is also working with local law enforcement to embed TxDMV investigators in operations around the state to help identify the illegal sale and use of temporary tags as part of criminal investigations. TxDMV welcomes any opportunity to work with law enforcement at all levels of government across the state as they pursue investigations into motor vehicle crimes.

“The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is grateful for the ongoing cooperation and engagement of law enforcement agencies across the state to combat the fraudulent use of temporary tags,” said TxDMV Executive Director Whitney Brewster. “My staff and I are committed to working with law enforcement in every way we can to end this illegal activity.”

Beginning in calendar year 2021, TxDMV dealer licensing and enforcement staff began reviewing licensing application records to verify existing licensed dealers and refer specific concerns to local law enforcement for potential criminal investigations. TxDMV staff is also able to use the information collected from these reviews to take administrative action to reduce access to temporary tag systems when appropriate and allowed by law.

Many of these joint law enforcement operations are funded by the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority (MVCPA), a division of TxDMV governed by a separate board. MVCPA awards grants to empower local law enforcement agencies and multi-agency taskforces to combat and prevent motor vehicle crimes. MVCPA taskforces work in local communities to stop criminal activities and educate citizens on automotive crime prevention.

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The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles registers and titles motor vehicles, licenses motor vehicle dealers, credentials motor carriers, issues oversize/overweight permits, investigates complaints against dealers and motor carriers, and awards grants to law enforcement agencies to reduce vehicle burglaries and thefts. Learn more at www.TxDMV.gov. Subscribe to receive TxDMV news releases via email or text message.