HAFA ADAI,

I RECENTLY (4 MOS) AGO TRIED TO GET MY WIFES DRIVERS LICENSE HERE ON GUAM. SHE IS A MILITARY SPOUSE WHICH I UNDERSTAND ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE AGREEMENT( POSSIBLY S.O.F.A., MAYBE THE SAILORS SOLDIERS ACT). SHE TOOK THE CLASSES NEEDED AND SHOWED UP AT THE DMV TO GET HER PERMIT( SHE HAS AN INTERNATIONAL LICENSE BUT ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR GUAM) BUT WAS TURNED AWAY BECAUSE i WAS TOLD THAT HER "SPONSOR" NEEDED TO BE A GUAM LICENSE HOLDER. GOOD ENOUGH- I'LL GET A FRIEND. "NO SIR, YOU'RE HER SPOUSE SO YOU NEED TO BE HER SPONSOR". WELL I HOLD AN ARIZONA DRIVERS LICENSE THAT IS VALID UNTIL 2042. DO I WANT TO GIVE THAT UP? THIS IS WHAT PUT ME IN CONTACT W/ A MR SALAS WHO IS THE SUPERVISOR OF THE LICENSE DEPT. HE SAYS THAT EVEN IF YOU ARE AN ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSON, AFTER 30 DAYS REGARDLESS OF ANYTHING, YOU ARE TO GET A GUAM DRIVERS LICENSE. NONSENSE. ASK AROUND, CALL YOUR LOCAL P.D. AND EVEN ASK OTHER PEOPLE WORKING SIDE BY SIDE HIM AT THE DEPT OF TAX AND REV. THEY TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED AS ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL TO GET A GU LICENSE AS LONG YOURS IS VALID IN THE STATE WHICH IS YOUR PERMANENT RESIDENT. I MET W/ MR SALAS AFTER DOING MY RESEARCH AND WAS TOLD I WAS MISTAKEN AS WAS 90% OF THE MILITARY DRIVING ON GUAM. EVEN FINDING IN THE GUAM DRIVING LICENSE STUDY GUIDE THAT SAYS MILITARY MEMBERS WITH A VALID STATESIDE LICENSE ARE EXEMPT I WAS TOLD THAT 'THAT'S A TYPO THAT WE'VE BEEN MEANING TO TAKE OUT'. IVE WRITTEN MR SALAS WITH NO REPLY. I LOVE GUAM, BUT, IT IS A SYSTEM WITH INCOMPETENT PEOPLE THAT HOLDS US BACK. PLEASE ASK FOR THIS SUBJECT TO CLARIFIED. USE YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND. MAYBE SOMEONE WILL LISTEN... BELOW IS AN EMAIL I'VE SENT WITH NO REPLY EVEN THOUGH MR SALAS SAYS HE IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO COME TO ANYONES COMMAND OR PLACE OF BUSINESS TO TELL THEM THE FACTS ON THIS ISSUE.

Mr. Salas,


I am writing in regards to the issue that we've talked about on the phone and in person about active duty military personnel staying in accord with Guam driving regulations. Specifically, the fact that active duty (not spouses) military, are obligated to turn in their valid state driver license in exchange for a Guam equivalent license after 30 days. You had told me that there are alot of misconceptions between your department and the military commands here on Guam. I would like for clarification so that we can start to get this issue resolved between your department and our command so that I can disseminate the information to my new guys. Thanks for the cooperation and your time.

Respectfully,

Mike xxx

Jesse C. Salas
Supervisor, Driver's License Examination
Tel: (671) 635-7651
635-1761
635-1762
635-1887
[email protected]