Florida Highway Patrol Reaches Out to Veterans

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles not only salutes Floridians who have served in America’s armed forces on Veterans Day but throughout the year.

“On this Veterans Day, we thank Floridians who have served our country,” said DHSMV Executive Director Julie L. Jones. “We are pleased to be involved with the community of veterans to help them and recognize them for the work they do and have done.”

Recruiting Veterans

DHSMV is always looking for qualified candidates to fill its ranks. The Florida Highway Patrol is working with the Florida National Guard and visiting job fairs at military installations and other locations to let service members and veterans know about career opportunities. To find out more about openings with FHP, go to BeATrooper.com. For nonsworn jobs within the agency, visit People First.

Hundreds of veterans work for the agency and, in the past two years, more than 200 employees who have been hired or promoted have claimed Veterans Preference on their job applications. In June, FHP received a prestigious award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve for demonstrating continued commitment to employees who serve in FHP and in the reserve forces.

“V” for Veteran on a Driver License or ID Card

Veterans with proof of honorable military service can get a veteran designation on their driver license. As of Nov. 1, nearly 79,000 Floridians have done so. For more on this designation, go to http://www.flhsmv.gov/military.htm.

Specialty License Plates for Branches of Service

Anyone can show support for veterans by purchasing one of seven specialty license plates for various branches of service. A portion of the funds from the plates goes to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. For more, go to http://www.flhsmv.gov/Military.htm.

Military Plates for Those Who Have Served

Seventeen plates are available for veterans to depict his or her specific military experience, such as Pearl Harbor Survivor, Ex-Prisoner of War or Purple Heart Recipient. Applicants must supply certain documentation to qualify for these plates. For more, go to http://www.flhsmv.gov/specialtytags/pmlpfaq.html#9.

Military Deployment Assistance

If a Floridian is stationed outside of the state, the agency has customer service representatives who can help military members and their families anywhere in the world renew their licenses or obtain replacements, if needed. For more, go to http://www.flhsmv.gov/military.htm.

Outreach at Florida Military Bases

DHSMV frequently offers driver safety education at military bases around the state. There are 20 military installations in Florida with nearly 43,000 active-duty military personnel serving at those installations.

Additional information about benefits for veterans is available at www.FloridaVets.org.