May 7, 2010

Q: Two weeks ago my wife was stopped at the gate for a random inspection and it was discovered that her license had expired the week before. I’m glad it was caught so soon! She was also informed that the vehicle we drive was not up to date on insurance, inspection and et cetera. I checked my paperwork and sure enough, the paper that they give you at the Vehicle Registration Office that tells you when everything expires had the wrong dates on it. They were actually inputted incorrectly, and I accept full responsibility for not checking the paperwork. My question is: If Security personnel can tell when a vehicle has passed expiration dates without looking at the paperwork, then they must have everything on computer. If that is the case, then wouldn’t it be possible to add something to the program to alert them when a license is close to expiring, so a warning could be issued to the driver?

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A: Driver’s licenses are issued by the Drivers License Office. The standard length of time a base issued driver’s license is valid is four years. Unfortunately your suggestion is not possible, as the patrolman on the road receive the information from the Regional Dispatch Office, which is responsible for all emergency services on the base. If you remember to check your drivers license every time you pay road tax or get a new Identification (ID) card than you should not have to experience this situation again. You must always verify that your vehicle is adequately insured and in good operating order. Also, as a reminder, it is considered a privilege, not a right, to drive in Japan and on the installation.

I have a suggestion for improvement of this process based on my experience supervising the MVRO in Naples, Italy, for two years back in the early 90's when I was a SCPO. This actually came as a Base Newspaper complaint, which I had to act on and report back to the CO on. Here's what we did to enhance our customer service:

They already have the email address of the owner. We didn't have that back then, so they are one step ahead of the game here. Then all they have to do is generate an email when certain parameters of the input screen have been met.  It ended up that we mailed out post card sized reminders, which didn't cost us a dime because of MPS mailing.    The IT department may have to be consulted, but if somebody high enough in the food chain wants this to happen, it will happen. I remember the CO of NSA Naples telling me - "Get together with all the department heads and make this happen!" And you know what? It happened.   End of story.

Mike, if you take the individual, and create a scheduled task, a script written to verify the syntax and run based on x amount of days it would auto send a formatted email template to the individual automatically. The level of expertise for this may be the biggest hurdle for the gov.

Its not that hard to accomplish though.

I work smarter, not harder.

I do think its a great addition for the community if it was implemented.

www.japanbases.com

Adam, the system they use looks a lot like MSAccess. And the level of expertise to implement an "experationdate-90", tie it to a report, and do a query that runs an email would be the same as taught on good old VB, day 1, hour 1. Crap, access has that as one of the default queries....

Of course, it might NOT be MSAccess, in which case my question would be.... why in the hell would you create a relational DB that looks exactly like you used the default form function in MSA?

really? were looking at the possibility of adding a simple, more annoying task to an MA's job at the gate..why is it so hard for that task to be left to that individual. To have it be THEIR responsibility to check their OWN drivers license and make sure all THEIR stuff is up to date. There is no excuse for driving along with one expired bc ohh..Ive just had too much on my mind, too much to do. There are no excuses. As far as getting that email thing down..good luck. It will take the installation quite the years to get this right.

really? were looking at the possibility of adding a simple, more annoying task to an MA's job at the gate..why is it so hard for that task to be left to that individual. To have it be THEIR responsibility to check their OWN drivers license and make sure all THEIR stuff is up to date. There is no excuse for driving along with one expired bc ohh..Ive just had too much on my mind, too much to do. There are no excuses. As far as getting that email thing down..good luck. It will take the installation quite the years to get this right.

here's a suggestion: pay attention to when it expires and look at your license every so often.

Thank you Amber! Its really not that hard people!

Doesn't everybody pretty much have some sort of calendar function in gmail, hotmail, or whatever they use?

License expires in 4 years..i mean really..its gotta be some officer/chief expecting this from the command/security. And of course, since thats possibly who is requesting such thing, it will go into play before anything else thats really important should. Jeez..throw it in your phones schedule..im sure it goes out 4 yrs.
There shouldnt be special treatment btw. Like wives wearing their husbands rank..pssh. but thats a diff thread.

Question. Would you ask the Police department in your hometown to send you an email when your driver's license is expiring? Probably not. Why would you think Security would do that? They care about the terrorist that are off base and keeping you safe.

You mean that we should take responsibility for our own lives? How dare you suggest that! We need big government to hold our hands and make sure that we follow the rules. Heck. I deserve a phone call from CAPT Owen every morning in order to make sure I get up for work, darn it!

Yes also security should hold hands with everyone who walk in the gate and drive them to their destination and then proceed to renew your Id when it expires also security should give you flowers when your car is being impounded

When it is revenue driven then a reminder is sent out. DMV back home sends reminders to renew license and registration because they want their money. AIU also mails notices when your insurance is about to expire because they want their money too. There is no incentive to remind you when your drivers license here on base is going to expire.

It isnt about incentive. It is about manpower and resources. The licence system here on base is run by two people. Neither is computer savvy. I don't know what state you are from, but I have never ever received a reminder about my driver's licence. My registration, yes. Not my license.

When you register your vehicle, change the status or get a new sticker security prints out and attaches a statement with all your inform ation on it , learn to read it.

Posted By Navy Cop on 11-13-2011 8:25 PM
Question. Would you ask the Police department in your hometown to send you an email when your driver's license is expiring? Probably not. Why would you think Security would do that? They care about the terrorist that are off base and keeping you safe.

Really...please.....spare me the whining, CFAY security is the biggest breaker of the rule sin regards to cars and registration. 

I saw a blue RX-7 that an MA who was leaving japan stripped out at the base auto hobby shop three weeks back, the decals were expired for over a year, and yet I watched that car drive off and on the base daily for the last 8 months.  

it started when he could not get it past inspection so he just drove it as it was, I know I watched him try and prepare it for inspection several times at the auto hobby shop, nary a temp plate, nor gate pass.

what about the MA3 who bought the 180SX from Mr. Delacruze, that was registered in a civilian GS's who happens to work for navfac  Mr.  XXX  and then wrecked it out in town?  the Japanese title had never been changed from Mr. XXX to the MA3's name, yet the base paperwork had....

What about the two MA's that were trying to tow their friends car (totally expired paperwork)  from the parking garage and let it slip off of the wrecker and it smacked an MLC's car?  Making it so that CFAY could not tow any vehicles for several months while they created a new traning course to operate it.

Maybe the XXXXXXXX  should concentrate less on selling cars on the used car lot and concentrate on supervising sailors......

Just a thought

For 20.00 I'll tell you when your license and insurance expires and for 5.00 more I tell you your anniversary.

I accept paypal too.

My question is since you knew about these, why didn't you report them?

LOL Yokota! What a great business idea!

Navy Cop- Why on Earth would people try to hold others accountable for their actions? CFAY Security is omnipotent isn't it?

@ Navy Cop,

Maybe he is worried about a certain vindictive streak that tends to pop up in human beings. Not all of CFAY is the cream of the crop. Mind you I am not surprised in regards to the blue car, I work at the Auto Hobby and remember it, I do not know if he had temp plates on it when he brought it in to strip it or not but I do remember him having problems with preparing it for inspections last year. That being said the guy who owned it was a nice enough guy.

kenn

Yes Ken I knew he was having a hard time trying to get his car to pass the inspection. And yes he did have Temp tags from City Hall. He did what he had to do and once he decided he was getting out of the Navy, he tried to sale it. But since it wouldn't pass inspection, it did not get any hits. So he took all the parts that he out into it and junked it.
It sure was a nice RX-7.

I just hate when people bash on other people and they do not know the true facts. I agree with you Ken. Some of CFAY are not the cream of the crop, but the ones that are like this individual did follow the rules.

How about this. Security would give you an email, phone call, and a personal visit to everyone who's license is expiring. Then we will take you over to VRO and the license office to update you license. Then we will take you over to Chili's for lunch and say have a nice day. Come on. Really?? Last time I checked adults work and run this base. I am hoping that who ever put this as a forum is someone's Child who is luck enough to have a license.

Posted By Navy Cop on 02-07-2012 1:58 PM
How about this. Security would give you an email, phone call, and a personal visit to everyone who's license is expiring. Then we will take you over to VRO and the license office to update you license. Then we will take you over to Chili's for lunch and say have a nice day. Come on. Really?? Last time I checked adults work and run this base. I am hoping that who ever put this as a forum is someone's Child who is luck enough to have a license.

Navy,

not baggin, just saying....  and the above quote is hilarious     I worry enough about my license that I check it religiously.... The idea of walking is a non option with my lazy backside.  So I keep it updated.

cheers

kenn

Posted By Navy Cop on 02-07-2012 1:58 PM
How about this. Security would give you an email, phone call, and a personal visit to everyone who's license is expiring. Then we will take you over to VRO and the license office to update you license. Then we will take you over to Chili's for lunch and say have a nice day. Come on. Really?? Last time I checked adults work and run this base. I am hoping that who ever put this as a forum is someone's Child who is luck enough to have a license.

NavyCop...

People need to start realizing that CUSTOMER SERVICE goes a long way...

Sure, it may seem like its unnecessary or time consuming for the base to establish these type of policies and systems, but the fact is, its not impossible.

Sure it may take some time looking at their database tables for how they already consolidate those users, but that information could be parsed from one system to another, and then just have a scheduler which sends emails to each active user in the database X amount of days before it expires.

The same goes for AIU, sending out those paper reminders in the mail.

They could save a lot more $ if they just sent email reminders, 180 days out, 90 days, 60 days out, 30 days out, and then again 14, and 7 days before..

6 different reminders the user received, and if that user had the correct email on file, I doubt they would miss something important like updating their insurance paperwork, or updating their license.

Actually, the VRO which is a division of Security does provide you with a reminder about all vehicle paperwork and your driver's license. When you register your vehicle, pay road tax, re-new your insurancees there is a print out from the VRO which is stapled to all your vehicle paperwork. That print out as all your information and when anything, including your license, expires. Also printed on the bottom of your paperwork states it is YOUR responsibility to ensure the VRO data base is updated when any changes to your paper work is made, i.e. re-newing your insurances, LTO inspections. So to answer the "Request Security Adding Alerts To Warn about Close to Expiring License, they already have. It's in your GLOVE BOX.

You know, with all of the hubbub going around about smaller government, you would think that people would think about what that means. Smaller government means less funding for programs, fewer programs, and less people looking at these programs. Oh wait, does that mean that all of the non-mission essential programs like the Vehicle Registration Office may soon have fewer people and resources available to do the same work they are doing now? If you ask me, you should be glad that you usually get seen there in less than an hour, even on busy days. Or you could think about voting for bigger, bloated Federal programs and hire the two or three people required to run the "your license will expire next month" program. I would rather have those people running the schools, Fleet and Family Service Center, or the MWR programs.

Posted By felinious on 02-08-2012 4:46 PM
You know, with all of the hubbub going around about smaller government, you would think that people would think about what that means. Smaller government means less funding for programs, fewer programs, and less people looking at these programs. Oh wait, does that mean that all of the non-mission essential programs like the Vehicle Registration Office may soon have fewer people and resources available to do the same work they are doing now? If you ask me, you should be glad that you usually get seen there in less than an hour, even on busy days. Or you could think about voting for bigger, bloated Federal programs and hire the two or three people required to run the "your license will expire next month" program. I would rather have those people running the schools, Fleet and Family Service Center, or the MWR programs.

While I get the jist of your argument, being that those positions are MLC and funded by GOJ I don't think it really matters unless they do OT.

regardless with the cutbacks that are going to have to happen due to fiscal restraints I think their are going to be  a lot of "shocked" people on military bases throughout the world as various programs are reduced or maybe even cut in their entirety, but that is mana for another thread.


FWIW I think holding the individual personally responsible is a great thing.  If the traffic court would stop trying to wheedle points for some people and just apply the points/punishment directly the roads would clear up of stupid/uncareful/ or in this case (sorry adam) forgetful drivers with a quickness as their licenses would end up revoked with a quickness.

kenn

I think Adam had a valid point of could the databases be linked to send an auto reminder. If the answer is yes for almost no cost then why not do it. The fleet guys could use an auto reminder. I drove for a month on an expired license because that was the last thing I thought about as I worked sun up to sundown on the ship. Not to mention that unless it's related to the operation of the ship time off is hard to come by.

Navy Cop - The Commodore is chiming in here with all respect to your badge, pepper spray, and shiny boots. You sound like a typical close-minded, higher-than-mighty MA who enjoys busting people. People are not asking to be taken to Chili's for lunch, and have their butts wiped, just to get the VRO Department to create some system where an email reminder could be sent to people, that's all. Your tone is certainly not customer friendly and I hope you're not somebody wearing khakis in charge. This is 2012 and the age of instant communication, emails, iPhones, and the like. That is all ...

While working with the fine folks at NAVFAC trying to get my 50+ year old building in the middle of nowhere remodeled, I came to a realization. Nothing (and I really do mean nothing) is free. Take the NAVFAC trouble desk for instance. Just to have someone there 24/7 to answer the phone cost twice as much as I make in a year, just to keep that job running. That doesn't count the building he works in, the phone he answers, and all the other things that were required in order to get him there in the first place. No, we don't pay the MLC's directly. But we do pay for all of the people who they support, and their families, and the ships and offices they work in. The same thing goes for this automated system thingie. Can it be done? I have no doubt that it can. Will it cost money just to have somebody come in and look at the system to see if it can be done? Yes it will. Then buying the equipment, setting up the system, hiring and training personnel to operate and maintain it will cost more money. Finding a place to put the equipment costs money. Even having a comptroller look at the estimates costs money! Then the process has to go through at least two commands before it goes to USFJ since it is their program. That costs money too. So I think that while this system would be cheap and easy to maintain once it is in place, it is the getting there that is the hard part. Since this is really a convienience thing, I would rather have the people in charge of this kind of stuff worry about making sure my family is safe, our house is in good repair, and they have all of the facilities that they need to grow up happy and healthy. I can take responsibility for something as little as car registration.

@ Commodore: You're right!! Technology is great these days! Here is a cheaper way we can do this alert thing. Since computers, cell phones, tablets, etc. have calendars, why don't you put in your devices when your license is going to expire! That would be the cheapest way. Our you can just let the MAs do their random inspections and find people with expired paperwork.

Also, the badge, pepper spray, and shiny boots comment was top notch. So it's pretty obvious that you notice us in that way. We have a thing called PRIDE in our department. So don't bag on our uniforms. I take it you wear one too, Commodore.

Here is another reason why the system will not work. Commands are allowing their personnel transfer without checking out with VRO. So as of today we have over 12,000 records that we have been going through verifying the person has transfered. Some just abandoned their car, which we have to get them junked.
So sending these emails out will just get returned because they are no longer here.

Posted By yokota on 02-05-2012 10:51 PM
For 20.00 I'll tell you when your license and insurance expires and for 5.00 more I tell you your anniversary.

It looks like any sort of coordinated digital effort to notify individuals using modern technology is a bridge too far.

My offer still stands and I'm thinking about offering a special next month too.

While working with the fine folks at NAVFAC trying to get my 50+ year old building in the middle of nowhere remodeled, I came to a realization. Nothing (and I really do mean nothing) is free.

felinious: I think you make valid point, and I have always believed "You get what you pay for.." If you want to hire cheap inexperienced labor, than expect cheap inexperienced results..

I do also believe, that there is enough talent on base, (Americans & Japanese) that if they requested volunteer support from interested people to help come up with a solution, a solution could be created, implemented, and supported for little to no money.

The same thing goes for this automated system thingie. Can it be done? I have no doubt that it can. Will it cost money just to have somebody come in and look at the system to see if it can be done? Yes it will. Then buying the equipment, setting up the system, hiring and training personnel to operate and maintain it will cost more money. Finding a place to put the equipment costs money.

felinious: The equipment may just be a simple computer, with minimal storage, and a few gigs of ram.. A few tools installed, to process the data, parsing and evaluation, and then just a tool to forward on emails.

Technology is great these days! Here is a cheaper way we can do this alert thing. Since computers, cell phones, tablets, etc. have calendars, why don't you put in your devices when your license is going to expire! That would be the cheapest way. Our you can just let the MAs do their random inspections and find people with expired paperwork.

Navycop: Its not about the cheapest way, its about the most efficient way. Someone said something earlier in this thread about possibly cutting back $ / employees for programs like this. Well to me, it just makes more sense to automate tasks / reminders. As I continue to see throughout the DOD is the lack of technology programs that actually help support the mission / save time & money. They may of had a great idea, but it missed many key factors, and ends up getting pieced together, which in the end, causes people to do more work. If a program you have is not actually helping to increase efficiency, or helping the overall mission, why is it still in use?

I follow up regularly on DON CIO policies and initiatives. The fact is the DOD is trying to cut back costs and make things more efficient.
This unfortunately is a big spectrum view, but when it gets down to the key levels of where you would think it needs to make sense to make system work smarter not harder, you have people fighting to make it happen, simply because of lack of knowledge, money and resources.

Here is an example:

Consolidating Data Centers Key to Cutting IT Spending
http://www.doncio.navy.mil/ContentV...px?ID=3583

From this example, Do you think everyone is happy about these changes?
Probably not, but its in the best interest to cut back $ and find more efficient ways.

It is a wishful non operational goal to have this done.
Yes.. But look at the efficiency of just a small change.

I think this just sets the focus to anyone in a management / IT role reading this, to look your organizations, and figure out how can we make our department work more efficiently if we had the correct resources / technology..?

When someone stated its a USFJ policy to implement, than looking at this discussion it clearly makes sense to focus on DON IT/Cyberspace Efficiency Initiatives and Realignment. http://www.doncio.navy.mil/ContentV...px?ID=2088

Here is another reason why the system will not work. Commands are allowing their personnel transfer without checking out with VRO. So as of today we have over 12,000 records that we have been going through verifying the person has transferred. Some just abandoned their car, which we have to get them junked.
So sending these emails out will just get returned because they are no longer here.

This may seem like a showstopper for the solution, but I think the opposite. What can be designed, is a bounce-back notifier. Each member that is registered in the system, could have, or should have the sponsors official email address on file. Possibly a One-Net email address. What happens when you depart your command? You "should" be taken out of the GAL, and removed from your commands distribution lists. This doesn't always seem to happen immediately, but eventually it does. Well when the notifier realizes that a user is no longer valid, and receives an bounce-back email like this:

Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.

Subject: Original Message
Sent: 2/10/2012 12:00 AM

The following recipient(s) could not be reached:
xxx@xxxxx on 2/10/2012 12:00 AM
The e-mail account does not exist at the organization this message was sent to.
Check the e-mail address, or contact the recipient directly to find out the
correct address.

The system could recognize this issue, and inform the [USER] table in the database.
By default the entry would be [0] by default.
But if a person has transferred and received a bounce back email, it would change it to a [1]

You can then create another query report, which indicates all of the emails match [1] out of your 12,000 user base, provide me the results.

I've built systems, for this exact purpose, because there is no way to identify when you have a large organization when users possibly transfer based on an estimate PRD date. They may of created an account 2-3 years before, but the instant notifier identifies those people who have just transferred recently.

Besides creating a notification system to help the community, it now could also provide the possibility to cut down on administrative issues.

Again Adam, I have no doubt that it can be done. But when compared to all of the other things going on on the base here, this really is a low priority. Especially considering all of the hurdles that have to be jumped to make it happen. It isn't someone that CFAY can just wake up one morning and decide to make happen. Because of the effort involved, which I described earlier, I think that CFAY has decided to worry about things that are much easier to implement and have bigger effects on the community and operational assets. If you really feel this strongly about it, why not contact CFAY and volunteer your services? That would at least remove one hurdle to making it happen.