A Hallandale attorney has launched a website to help Florida motorists track the status of their drivers licenses. And hes doing it completely pro bono.
I have been practicing traffic law for over five years, and wanted to create a public service for Florida drivers to keep track of their driving privileges, Bret Lusskin, the creator of WatchMyLicense.com, tells Sunshine State News. Over the past few years, the rules of the road have been changing, and new technologies like red light cameras and toll-by-plate have made it easy to accidentally get a suspended license. Our service allows drivers to get notified quickly and conveniently when a problem arises, so they can avoid a suspension, save money, and comply with the law.
Lusskin made headlines earlier this month, when the Florida Supreme Court agreed to hear his case challenging the legality of red light camera citations issued by the city of Aventura, and other counties and municipalities, before 2010.
Users can avail themselves of Lusskins service by submitting their name, email address, and drivers license number through the website. They may optionally elect to submit a cell phone number as well. The site tracks the status of the license daily, through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), and sends registrants an email and text message when there is a change to their license status.
There is no charge for the service, and users can unsubscribe at any time.
Lusskin tells Sunshine State News that driving with a suspended license is the most commonly committed crime in Florida, and possibly around the country. According to an FAQ posted at WatchMyLicense, as many as 12 percent of all Florida licenses were suspended last year.
Lusskin says many drivers dont know when there is something wrong with their license status, because the DHSMV does not always notify them.
Presently, any licensed Florida driver can look up his or her license status at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website. However, almost nobody regularly checks on their license status, says Lusskin. The DMV presently only sends a letter via first-class mail to the licensee's address of record. This letter often gets lost in the mail, misaddressed, or otherwise not delivered.
The sites FAQ also addresses privacy concerns.
Your Florida driverlicense number is the only driver information we store, the site says. We observe all federal laws governing the protection of your information, and we do not collect any personal information from your driver record other than your driver license status. Further, we do not share your information with anyone other than our own direct affiliates, to whom we can refer you in the event of a problem.
Reach Eric Giunta at egiunta@sunshinestatenews.com or at (954) 235-9116.
