2026 Winners
International and Region 2
Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Hot Car Awareness Event
This submission centers on a powerful press event held at the Florida Historic Capitol, where leaders from across the state gathered to highlight the dangers of leaving children, pets, and vulnerable adults unattended in vehicles. Among those present were Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner, Department of Children and Families Secretary Taylor Hatch, State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Division of Emergency Management Meteorologist Caitlyn Gillespie, and Florida Highway Patrol Colonel Gary Howze. Their unified presence underscored the seriousness of the issue and demonstrated the state’s commitment to prevention.
The event carried a deeply personal dimension as the parents and grandparents of Ariya Paige joined state leaders to share her story. Ariya tragically lost her life in July 2023 after her babysitter left her inside a hot car for five hours. Her grandmother, Pamela Paige, worked tirelessly with Senator Jennifer Bradley and State Representative Chuck Brannan to draft and pass Ariya’s Act. On April 16, 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the legislation into law, designating April as Hot Car Death Prevention Month in Florida. The law ensures that Ariya’s memory continues to inspire education and awareness campaigns aimed at saving lives.
The objectives of the initiative were clear: to raise awareness of the dangers of hot car deaths, honor Ariya’s legacy, and promote the newly enacted law as a tool for prevention. The intended audience included parents, caregivers, and guardians across Florida, as well as public safety professionals, healthcare providers, and advocacy groups. By combining legislative achievement with public education, the campaign sought to reach both policymakers and everyday Floridians with a message of vigilance and responsibility.
The strategy blended policy with personal testimony to create a narrative that was both authoritative and emotionally resonant. Hosting the event at the Historic Capitol provided symbolic weight, while the presence of Ariya’s family ensured that the issue remained personal, human, and relatable. Tactics included a high-profile press conference, media outreach through press releases and social media, and collaboration among agencies including the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida Department of Children and Families, and Florida Division of Emergency Management. Personal storytelling was also central to the campaign, helping communicate the urgency of prevention and the devastating consequences of leaving vulnerable individuals unattended in vehicles.
The event generated widespread media coverage, amplifying the message across Florida and beyond. It strengthened recognition of Ariya’s Act as a landmark child safety law and established April as a recurring month for education and outreach. The collaboration among state agencies, law enforcement, and Ariya’s family also fostered a sense of unity and helped sustain momentum for hot car death prevention efforts. By bringing together government leaders, public safety professionals, and a family transformed by tragedy, the initiative turned a powerful personal story into a statewide call to action focused on awareness, vigilance, and saving lives.
Region 1
New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles
Division-wide Emergency Preparedness Training
On October 14, 2024, the New Hampshire DMV conducted a division-wide training for all 220 employees assigned to 14 locations across the state. The eight-hour training was held at DMV Headquarters and provided employees with consistent, standardized instruction. Closing all DMV offices on a regularly scheduled business day required months of planning and approval from the Governor of New Hampshire, as well as timely communication with customers through signs at all locations, website notifications, and a press release. Careful consideration was given to selecting a date that would have the least impact on customers. Columbus Day was selected because it is not a recognized state holiday in New Hampshire, and customer transactions and calls are significantly lower than on other Mondays because many businesses are closed.
With an auditorium capacity of only 125 people, conducting training for 220 employees throughout the building required precise scheduling, coordination, and creative problem-solving. Employees were divided into two groups, with three teams within each group, allowing every employee to participate in each training session while maintaining manageable group sizes. The schedule included hands-on Stop the Bleed training provided by the state’s Division of Emergency Medical Services. This national campaign teaches participants how to stop or slow bleeding during an emergency, including techniques such as applying a tourniquet and packing a wound.
Employees also participated in real-time Active Shooter training provided by the New Hampshire State Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit. The training included a formal presentation as well as hands-on demonstrations conducted throughout different areas of the building, including secured areas, customer service counters, and public lobbies. Additional sessions focused on customer service and the DMV’s role in organ donation designations, including a presentation by New England Donor Services about the importance of organ donation registration.
Weather conditions on the morning of the training required additional flexibility. Opening remarks and greetings were held simultaneously in two locations connected by a sound system, allowing the event to proceed as planned despite the weather. All employees were then brought together outdoors for a division-wide group photo and closing remarks. To support the event, the DMV created signs identifying parking and training locations, printed agendas for all attendees, and prepared name tags that identified each employee’s bureau, group, and team assignment.
The training was a complete success, with employees transitioning between sessions smoothly and efficiently. The careful planning, creative use of available space, and coordinated scheduling ensured that all 220 employees received the same comprehensive training experience. Employee feedback reflected the success of the effort, with participants describing the event as “really well thought out and presented,” “awesome,” and expressing appreciation that “every single one of us had the opportunity to attend.” The initiative demonstrated the New Hampshire DMV’s commitment to employee preparedness, professional development, safety, and consistent service across all of its locations statewide.
Region 3
Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division
Privacy in Action: Iowa's Annual DPPA Training
In 2025, the Iowa DMV’s Learning and Development (L&D) team partnered with its Driver Issuance Compliance Officer to design and deliver an innovative in-person training event focused on strengthening awareness and understanding of the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). The goal was to transform a complex compliance topic into an engaging and memorable experience that would inspire employees to prioritize data protection in their daily work. The training was designed to reinforce the importance of safeguarding driver and personal data across all Motor Vehicle Division operations, increase staff understanding of how DPPA requirements apply to real-world situations, provide a dynamic and interactive learning experience that promotes engagement and retention, and foster a culture of privacy, compliance, and accountability across the organization.
The 2025 DPPA training was delivered across six regional training days and centered on a fully immersive, podcast-based learning experience. The event featured four interactive, narrative-driven podcast episodes, each designed to explore DPPA compliance from a different perspective. “Blackout Plates and Betrayal: A DPPA Drama” used a dramatized story to illustrate common pitfalls and the real-world consequences of mishandling protected driver data. “The Tyrant Terminator: A Story About First Amendment Auditors” presented a scenario highlighting how staff should navigate interactions with First Amendment auditors while maintaining professionalism and strict adherence to DPPA requirements. “What Would You Do?” presented a series of privacy-focused scenarios that prompted participants to identify best practices and discuss appropriate responses to complex customer and data-handling situations. Finally, “The Senseless Murder of Rebecca Schaeffer” used a true-crime narrative to underscore the devastating consequences of failing to protect personal information and reinforce the critical importance of compliance.
To strengthen attention and encourage real-time application, participants used an interactive DPPA checklist to identify and check off potential DPPA or personally identifiable information (PII) infringements they heard throughout each podcast episode. The training also incorporated two commercial breaks, styled as radio-style intermissions, that reinforced key privacy messages. Each segment highlighted AAMVA’s MOVE article, “County Attack – Interacting with First Amendment Auditors,” a public service announcement reminding participants that sharing login credentials is a violation and emphasizing personal responsibility for system security, and the Iowa DMV’s DPPA Policy Memo and related resources, including where to find and how to use them.
To support continued learning after the training, each participant received a comprehensive one-page resource guide summarizing key DPPA concepts, policy references, definitions, and best-practice reminders for use on the job. Participants later completed an online micro-training assessment, extending the learning beyond the in-person event while providing an opportunity to reinforce key concepts and track knowledge retention.
The initiative produced strong results and meaningful engagement. A total of 482 staff members participated across the six regional training days. Post-event surveys showed significant increases in employees’ confidence and understanding of their DPPA responsibilities, while the follow-up learning management system (LMS) micro-assessment confirmed strong knowledge retention and continued engagement. Participants praised the podcast and “ad break” format as a refreshing and effective way to learn about an important compliance topic. The success of the initiative has also influenced future training, with the podcast format and privacy-themed commercial breaks now being incorporated into other training initiatives across the division. By transforming a complex regulatory requirement into an immersive, interactive experience, the Iowa DMV created a memorable approach to compliance education while strengthening a culture of privacy and accountability across the organization.
Region 4
Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles
Idaho Pop-up DMV!
The Idaho Division of Motor Vehicles made it easier for residents to upgrade to a Star Card, Idaho’s version of a REAL ID, by launching temporary pop-up service locations across the state. The initiative began at DMV Headquarters in Boise and quickly expanded after strong demand and positive public response demonstrated the need for additional service options. The goal was to help Idahoans meet the federal REAL ID requirement deadline while reducing long wait times and appointment backlogs at county DMV offices.
DMV teams worked closely with local motor vehicle offices and trained staff statewide to host similar pop-up events offering convenient, walk-in Star Card services. The streamlined approach allowed customers to get in, get served, and get on their way without an appointment, providing a simple and accessible alternative to traditional DMV visits. By bringing services directly to communities, the pop-up locations helped expand access while easing pressure on permanent offices.
The pop-up events proved highly successful, helping thousands of residents obtain their Star Cards ahead of the federal deadline. Customer feedback was overwhelmingly positive, while county offices reported reduced congestion and improved service flow. The initiative demonstrated the Idaho Transportation Department’s commitment to innovation, accessibility, and customer convenience while providing a flexible solution to meet increased demand for REAL ID services across the state.