Corra Daily Planet

Motor Vehicle Driving Records, or MVRs, as they are known, are an essential background check for trucking and transportation firms.  Employers in other industries also rely on the MVRs to ascertain certain characteristics and behavior patterns on their employment candidates.  Periodically, various Departments of Motor Vehicles or DMVs modify their regulations concerning driving records as background checks for preemployment screening purposes.

Such is the case with the Massachusetts Department of Motor Vehicles.  For those ordering MVR background checks for their job candidates, please be aware of the following change–

The recent Massachusetts law 201 regarding MVRs, which will affect what our clients with respect to what they can view on emailed or faxed reports that include Massachusetts MVR’s.  Massachusetts recently passed legislation which states that MVR results can no longer be sent via email or fax. As a result, we have introduced a change to emailed and faxed reports that have Massachusetts MVR’s. Instead of the full results, we will now send the following message only for Massachusetts MVR’s:

The Massachusetts Driving History Report is complete for [Applicant Name]. Due to the State of Massachusetts law 201 CMR 17.00, the results cannot be transmitted via email or fax. For the complete results, please view this report within your secure online client portal.

Please note that the other 49 states remain unchanged, and clients that view the online version of the report will see the full Massachusetts MVR results.

Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell has vetoed a bill that would have prevented state agencies from conducting criminal background checks on job applicants until they were determined to be qualified for the job.

The Governor considered the bill ambiguous in too many areas.   She was concerned about certain legal issues as well as administrative procedures.   According to the article in Business Insurance the governor argued the following…That “will certainly create difficulties in administration and application across the state. One agency may deem a person qualified on paper credentials alone while another will not consider a person qualified until after several interviews,” Gov. Rell said in the veto message.

The issue of “qualified” may be interpreted as an offer of employment, which may not be the case.  It was also pointed out that previously convicted felons, thous with criminal records in their background checks, will not gain any benefit from waiting before conducting these background searches.   Convicted felons are already prohibited from working for state agencies.

As several states are passing similar laws where either the state employer has to either deem the job applicant qualified or actually offer them the job, before conducting background checks, I think Governor Rell is demonstrating a more reasoned approach to background checks for public servants.  Rather than complicate matters, the veto will best serve to simply the issue.    The law, as it was presented seemed to be a bill that while the intent was there for a more fluid approach to recruiting and hiring, the unforeseen complications and legal issues would only work against the state.

I have reported on several occasions about employers utilizing social networks as background checks for their preemployment screening programs.   The practice is occurring with increased frequency, and I have cautioned job applicants to use restraint and be prudent about what they post on Facebook or the other social media sites.  Don’t bad mouth your boss or former bosses, and don’t cast aspersions again the companies you have worked for.  Employers don’t smile kindly on the prospect of finding themselves ridiculed on your Facebook page.  The last time I wrote an article about this, it was entitled , The Bugaboo of Background Checks and Social Networks.

So now the New York Times has reported that the United States Military is recruiting personnel who are savvy, even gifted, in navigating the social media channels.   The new team of soldiers are using their social networking skills to flush out insurgents on the Internet and to help save the lives of American Soldiers in combat.   Apparently, the Army’s team of social networkers coordinates with drones and other resources to issue warnings or to relate possible targets to the ground forces.

More than 4,000 analysts chat it up in the chat rooms.   The chat rooms are rolling boxes of text and the analyst communicates with the ground forces, keeps them informed about threats or tactical targets and opportunities.    Large monitors display the feeds from the drones.

So I guess that same kid who may have not gotten a job because his social networking background check showed him as too chatty, or whatever, may now be working for the Armed Forces.   The Military is getting hip and hooking up video feeds with chat rooms is definitely a way to go.

Since I often write about the insensible acts  and lapses in background checks committed by state, municipal, and public service agencies, I thought this one would offer a pleasant relief.  Connecticut Governor, M. Jodi Rell, just signed into law  a bill into law that will increase penalties for falsifying school bus safety records or transporting students on out-of-service buses. This is one of those wise and sensible acts that helped protect children.

Not long ago, it was discovered that a worker for the bus company was falsifying information, lying in plain language.   It would appear that the falsification of information was not limited to the one worker, but other bus companies were doing the same.    By hiding key information, including driving records and criminal charges, these “omissions” served to make that bus ride that much more dangerous for the kids.

The bill the Governor signed into  law requires the DMV to conduct background checks on employees hired to make and issue driver’s licenses and identification cards.   The cost of the background checks will be covered by a federal grant.   Money, in my opinion, that is being put to good use.  The new law will also make mandatory fines of $2,500 and will require drivers convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol to install ignition interlock devices for 10 years after conviction.

Background checks will be helpful in keeping the bus companies honest about their drivers.  Nobody needs drunk drivers tooling their children around the city on a school bus.