The Peer-to-Peer MVA Mentoring Program was created by the Office of the Public Defender to help clients obtain driver's licenses. The program provides individualized instruction to prepare clients for the knowledge test and assist with motor vehicle issues. Obtaining a license can help with jobs, education, and childcare. However, the number of licensed drivers has dropped, perhaps due to public transportation costs, driving school costs, or lack of priority. Success stories are provided about clients who received help getting licensed despite charges or suspensions. Current and future projects include improving test preparation and developing an intern guide.

1. The Peer-to-Peer MVA
Mentoring Program
A Program through the Office of the Public Defender

2. Mission Statement
• The Peer-to-Peer MVA Mentoring Program was created
by the Office of the Public Defender to assist our clients
in obtaining licenses through the Maryland Motor Vehicle
Administration. Our purpose is to provide individualized
instruction to help clients zealously prepare for the
knowledge test and to assist in various motor vehicle
related issues.

3. A Maryland Driver’s License
• Documentation
• Jobs
• Education
• Child Care

4. A Drop in Licensed Drivers
• “The number of 16-year-olds who received Maryland
licenses fell from 21,700 in 1995 to 6,000 in 2012”
–Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration
Public Transportation
Cost
• Car
• Gas
• Driving School
Electronic Communication “Just didn’t get around to it”

5. A Drop in Licensed Drivers
• Timing of Driver’s License Acquisition and Reasons for
Delay among Young People in the United States Study by
the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
• Household Income:
• <$20k/year: 25% licensed by 18
• >$100k/year: 79% licensed by 18
• Race:
• Non-Hispanic white: 67% licensed by 18
• Non-Hispanic black: 37% licensed by 18
• Hispanic: 29% licensed by 18

6. About Us
Remove barriers to
obtaining a driver’s license
Navigate
Administrative Process
MVA
Child
Support
Personalized
Instruction
Driving
Manual
Practice
Tests

7. Breakdown
Phone Calls
Face to Face
Research

8. Success Story:
Steven
• Charge: Driving on a Suspended License
• Suspended for Child Support
• Truck impounded at Pulaski

9. Success Story:
Andrew
• Charge: Driving without a License
• Disposition: PBJ-6 months, unsupervised;
$480 fine waived

10. Success Story:
Sonya
• Charge: Driving without a License
• Outcome: Postponed until October

11. Current Projects
• Drafting letter to the MVA on question logic
• Scanning tests
• Marking questions
• Calling local driving schools to ask about discounted
rates for low-income students

12. Future Goals
• Developing a structured guide for future interns
• Written document
• Staffing the program for the rest of the year
• Club at Loyola University Maryland

13. Thank You!