MTO releases procedures for carriers, drivers affected by strike

TORONTO (May 7, 2002) — The Ontario Ministry of Transportation automatically extended driver licences and some specialized vehicle permits beyond the expiry date as workers sift through piles of paperwork backlogged during the 54-day strike by government employees.

The government is also making arrangements for extended hours of service at Ministry of Transportation offices.

The MTO said driver licences that expired March 13, 2002, or later have been extended until August 2, 2002. Licence plate stickers, however, are not extended and should be renewed at one of the 281 private Driver and Vehicle License Issuing Offices located across the province.

Driver licences that expired before March 13, 2002, when the strike began, are not extended. Licences can be renewed when the ministry’s computer systems and ServiceOntario Kiosks are available starting the week of May 21.

Among the services the MTO is trying to restore:

Oversize/overweight permits: Contact the MTO Carrier Safety and Enforcement Branch at 905/704-2500 for further information.

International Registration Plan (IRP): All credentials with an expiry date of March 31, 2002, or later, are automatically extended until further notice. The processing of International Registration Plan transactions will resume as soon as MTO’s computer system is fully operational. In the interim, the ministry will be issuing temporary Cab Cards to carriers with vehicles not previously registered with the International Registration Plan.

Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration (CVOR): The Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration and for-hire operating authorities will only be available when the carrier database has been fully restored to ensure that certificates are issued to eligible carriers only.

The ministry has set up a telephone hotline to answer questions about licences, permits, and other services. Call 416/235-4686 in Toronto, or toll-free at 1-800/268-4686. As well, motorists can contact their local Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office, listed in the blue pages.

MTO BACKGROUNDER: RESTORING DRIVER, VEHICLE AND CARRIER SERVICES AFTER STRIKE

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) driver, vehicle and carrier databases were not operational during the labour disruption. The computer systems must be restarted in phases and then about 1.5 million records received during the strike, must be entered. It will be about two weeks until most services are available, including driver licences and ServiceOntario Kiosks. The public is urged to take advantage of the convenience of automatic extensions to many documents.

Licences and permits that have been automatically extended include:

Extended Until
————–
Drivers’ Licences August 2, 2002
Driving Instructor Licences August 2, 2002
Disabled Persons Parking Permits August 2, 2002
Commercial Vehicle Validations August 2, 2002
Trip Permits August 2, 2002
Photocopies of Safety Standards,
Annual Inspection and Structural
Inspection certificates August 2, 2002
Oversize/Overweight Permits August 2, 2002
Load Broker Certificates August 2, 2002
Motorized Snow Vehicle Permits August 2, 2002

Check the expiry date on your licence or permit. Any of these documents with an expiry date of March 13, 2002, or later, have been automatically extended to give people ample time to go to a Driver and Vehicle Issuing Office and renew it.

Driver licences that expired before March 13, 2002, when the strike began, are not extended. Licences can be renewed when the ministry’s computer systems and ServiceOntario Kiosks are available starting the week of May 21st.

Driver Examinations

Priority will be given to road tests for all classes of licenses that were cancelled because of the strike (i.e., scheduled on or after March 13, 2002). Please call 416-325-8580, or toll-free 1-888-570-6110, or call or visit the Driver Examination Centre where your test was booked to arrange a new time.

Services available immediately:

Driver Examination:
– Call 416-325-8589 or 1-888-570-6110 to rebook a road test appointment
that was missed due to the unavailability of driver examination
services during the strike
– Delivery of some road tests scheduled after the strike
– Confirming any previously booked road test
– Knowledge and vision tests for senior drivers required to attend a
group education session
– Knowledge and vision tests for classified licences (upgrade only)
– Receiving medical updates/reports
– Receiving surrendered drivers’ licences
– General public inquiries
– Sale of handbooks

Vehicle Registration:
– Plate renewal (one year only)
– Trip Permit
– Replace sticker
– Original registration
– Transfer of a used vehicle – dealers and some private sales
– Plate attachment/replacement/termination
– Data changes (e.g. address, make, model)
– Vehicle status changes
– Own Choice Plate gift certificate
– Payment of Insufficient Funds (NSF) Debt
– Temporary International Registration Plan credentials

Carrier Licensing:
– Load broker certificates
– Single trip and special for-hire operating authorities permits
– Oversize/Overweight single trip permits
– Motor Vehicle Inspection Station products
– Acceptance of applications for carrier-related permits
– Responding to customer enquiries and providing general information

Services not available until the week of May 21st:

Driver Transactions:
– Booking or delivery of any new road tests
– Out-of-province exchanges
– Temporary Drivers’ Licences, other than for successfully passing a road
test
– Knowledge and vision tests (e.g. G1 and M1 licences), other than for
senior drivers required to attend a group education session and
classified upgrades
– Replacement drivers’ licences
– Drivers’ licence renewals
– Stand-bys for road tests
– Data changes (e.g. name, sex, date of birth, voluntary downgrade,
height etc.)
– Senior driver group education sessions
– Demerit point interviews
– Driver abstracts

Vehicle Transactions:
– Transfer of used vehicle
– Used Vehicle Information Package (UVIP)
– Plate renewal (two years)
– International Registration Plan (IRP) credentials
– Replacement of vehicle permits

Carrier Transactions:
– Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration (CVOR) certificates
– Commercial Vehicle Operator Registration (CVOR) abstracts
– For-Hire Operating Authority