NEWS RELEASES
Florida Brings Awareness To October ECI Month
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles's website.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) and To Inform Families First (TIFF) non-profit organization urge Florida residents in the midst of ECI Awareness Month (October), to register or update, if needed, their emergency contact information (ECI) to the state's law enforcement. ECI is a state-supported, secure system that allows Floridians, with a valid license or ID card, to designate up to two emergency contacts in case of emergencies on the road or elsewhere. The system may only be accessed by law enforcement and only in the event of an emergency.
“Registering emergency contact information is the first step to providing peace of mind for loved ones,” said DHSMV Executive Director, Terry L. Rhodes. “Floridians should keep their information updated in the ECI system, so law enforcement can notify contacts immediately.” On October 2, 2006, Christine Olson became the first person to register ECI in Florida, creating the first ever ECI program in the nation. Due to its success in Florida, the ECI program has been replicated in six other U.S. states. As of September 2018, more than 14 million Floridians have registered their information in the ECI system. “Taking two minutes to register or update your emergency contact info can save you hours of worry, fear and not knowing,” said TIFF President, Christine Olson. “Do it today – your family is counting on you.” Teens can go through the registration process at the same time they apply for their driver license to make things more convenient.
To learn more about registering in the ECI system, go to the DHSMV website.