Motor vehicle and highway safety organizations do far more than issue driver’s licenses and license plates—they serve people. Across North America, agency employees are stepping outside their offices and finding creative ways to meet their communities where they are. Whether empowering women, helping people find stability or keeping families safe, these public servants are redefining what community service looks like. The groups highlighted below, all winners of AAMVA’s Community Service Award, show that compassion and creativity can turn routine government work into a powerful force for good.

Building People Up

Sometimes, community service starts with confidence. At the California Department of Motor Vehicles, a grassroots effort called Women@DMV was created by and for women across the agency to lift one another up—and lift others in the process, according to Serenity Thompson, the DMV’s deputy director of digital services. Founded in 2023, the group brings together employees from field offices to state headquarters, offering mentorship, workshops and encouragement to women at every stage of their careers.

Delaware DMV and its partners think creatively about services to offer beyond IDs: showers, laundry facilities, barbers, substance abuse counseling and on-site job interviews, to name a few.

Their reach extends well beyond the DMV. In 2024, they partnered with Women’s Empowerment, a Sacramento nonprofit serving unhoused and economically disadvantaged women. “We asked ourselves how Women@DMV can make the greatest impact both inside the DMV and in the community. How could we help women who were struggling to find gainful and meaningful employment?” says Erica Soulé, associate governmental program analyst and co-chair of Women@DMV. “Our group launched a drive to collect clothing and other essentials women needed for job interviews and began to host workshops to help women learn how to apply for a state job. I was humbled to see the overflow of donations the DMV delivered to the shelter.”

Behind every box of donated clothes was a belief that empowerment starts with dignity. Women@DMV volunteers sorted, delivered and inspired, turning a workplace initiative into a movement of support. “I think of Women@DMV as a community where we come together to support each other professionally and personally. I volunteered to be one of the executive co-sponsors because it is an opportunity for me to give back, just like the incredible women mentors I’ve had throughout my entire career,” says deputy director for public affairs Eva Spiegel, one of the group’s executive co-sponsors.

Opening Doors

For others, service means removing barriers. In Delaware, the Division of Motor Vehicles joined forces with the Wilmington Police Department in 2023 to support the city’s H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Those Living in Poverty) program. Together, they’re bringing life-changing resources—food, shelter, legal aid and, crucially, state identification cards—to people experiencing homelessness.

The California DMV has a majority women workforce at almost 70%.

At the first H.E.L.P. event in August 2023, DMV staff helped 14 people obtain IDs or licenses. Since then, the process has become faster and more accessible thanks to a new voucher system that covers payment processing behind the scenes. “Offering services individuals would otherwise not have the opportunity to receive is life-changing,” says DMV Director Amy Anthony. “Obtaining an ID, finding job opportunities and getting laundering services can make the difference between being unhoused and having a place to call home.”

A similar mission is unfolding in Iowa. The Department of Transportation partnered with
the City of Des Moines Public Library to host ID-issuance events for residents who couldn’t travel to traditional offices, lacked documents like birth certificates or couldn’t afford the documentation. Using photo recognition, staff verified identities and issued new cards on-site, free of charge.

“This initiative aimed to break down barriers to obtaining an ID and offer a path to self-sufficiency,” says public service field manager Kathleen Schultz. “This is such an important event to help those in need.”

After all, a government-issued identification is required to get a job, secure housing, enroll in healthcare or disability benefits and sometimes even to access social services, such as shelters and food pantries. Schultz’s advice to other agencies interested in starting a similar program is to be patient and learn from any hiccups. “One thing we learned was to think about our demographic when planning the times of day to hold our events,” she says.

What began as a local pilot is now expanding to other efforts in the state, proving that a small change—meeting people where they are—can make an enormous difference.

Meeting Needs on the Move

In Florida, mobility isn’t just an idea—it’s a mission. Since 1988, the Florida Licensing on Wheels (FLOW) program has been crisscrossing the state in RVs equipped to provide essential motor vehicle services to residents who might otherwise go without.

A properly installed car seat reduces the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

FLOW brings the DMV directly to community events, remote towns, disaster recovery sites and correctional facilities, offering everything from driver’s licenses to ID replacements. Between September 2023 and October 2024, the team assisted nearly 7,000 Floridians.

“The program’s efforts have been particularly notable during emergencies, such as hurricanes and other crises, where FLOW units have provided critical identification and licensing services to those in need,” says Sonia Colon, bureau chief of credentialing services, Division of Motorist Services. “Beyond emergency response, our FLOW team’s dedication continues daily, traveling up to four hours from their homes to serve remote communities.”

FLOW’s work highlights the importance of simply showing up—a concept at the heart of a program in Louisiana to keep the youngest travelers safe. Every September, the Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force mark National Child Passenger Safety Week with hands-on education and free car seat checks. On Seat Check Saturday, the last Saturday of the month, volunteers fan out across the state—setting up at hospitals, community centers and local businesses—to hand out free child safety seats to families in need and make sure those seats are properly installed.

Many parents don’t realize their seats are installed incorrectly, says Sergeant Scott Moreau of the Louisiana State Police’s Public Affairs Section. Through partnerships with police officers, nurses, teachers and social workers, the task force has certified more than 600 child passenger safety technicians and distributed more than 180 car seats. “In Louisiana, we have some of the safest laws for child passenger safety, and we take passenger safety very seriously,” Moreau says.

Iowa state IDs were offered at no cost to individuals in need, thanks to the City of Des Moines and generous donations.

Throughout all of these different efforts, one thing is clear: Agencies see public service as personal. The work is about showing up—again and again—with empathy and purpose. “Their efforts not only provide essential services but also foster sustainable relationships and trust throughout Florida,” says Colon of the outreach in the state. “Their resilience, professionalism and heart for service exemplify the very best of public service.”

As Colon highlights, this work is more than just serving communities—it’s about building them.