Senator Sepúlveda and New York DMV: Confirm Progress and Firm Commitment in License Homologation with the Dominican Republic

Regarding the article ‘Driving Licenses’ published on December 19, 2023, we wish to clarify and emphatically correct the statements made about the homologation of driver’s licenses between New York and the Dominican Republic. 

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has demonstrated a clear commitment and respect towards the Dominican people, evidenced by signing the law in the presence of President Luis Abinader. If Governor Hochul were not committed to this cause, she would not have proceeded with her signature. 

We want to emphasize that efforts to implement this law are actively underway. These efforts include: 

1. The development of a training protocol for employees of the New York DMV. 

2. The creation of a draft agreement between the INTRANT and the DMV. 

3. A comprehensive analysis of the technical aspects of issuing and verifying licenses. 

These actions refute any suggestion of a lack of preparation or willingness to advance on this matter. Furthermore, the Commissioner of the DMV has kept Senator Sepúlveda fully informed, ensuring transparency and constant progress. 

We are unaware of the source of the statements and categorically reject the notion that the State of New York is not prepared or has no intention of implementing this law. We assure the public that once the preparations are complete, meetings will be organized to discuss and evaluate these advancements. 

It is our duty to refute any misinformation and reaffirm our commitment to the effective implementation of this law, for the benefit of the close relationship between New York and the Dominican Republic. 

In addition, we have received an update from the DMV sent today to Senator Sepúlveda’s office, indicating active progress on the license reciprocity program. The DMV continues to develop this program on two fronts: (1) developing criteria to evaluate a jurisdiction’s licensing standards to determine eligibility; and (2) developing processes and procedures to apply for and implement a reciprocity agreement. The DMV appreciates the Senator’s continued support of this program and anticipates sharing more information in the near future. A follow-up discussion is proposed for the 3rd or 4th week of January to further discuss these developments. This update signifies the DMV’s active involvement and dedication to advancing this important initiative.