Cop Database Question

[BillyC]

When MA suspended my license KY followed their lead.
I had never even had a speeding ticket in KY but the suspended me anyway..
I had to pay to reinstate my license in KY before MA would reinstate me even though I did not live in KY any more.

How is that for extortion.

[donlovelace]

I quit being a cop in 1982. At that time there was a law called a "scoff law". All fifty states and three Canadian provinces participated. If you got a ticket any where else and "scoffed" at the ticket, say because you were never going back there.... Your state would not renew your driver's license until said ticket/matter was cleared up.

[Pat McCotter]

The "Flying Tires" of Ohio stopped me and nine other cars on the OH Turnpike (about 24 years ago). They took our licenses and "escorted" us to the local station and the took our money for the infractions then and there.

I don't recall if there were threats of jail or not but the intimidation factor was very high. "Pay or you are not going on to your destination."

[donlovelace]

I really don't know. My guess would be... yes. Most cops are getting computers in the patrol cars who knows what information they have access to.

[Pat K]

Good to see around Don.

[donlovelace]

 
Thank you my brother, I'll see you again, just not right away.

[Pat K]

Well till then, take care.

[aries]

I was talking with this again with my father today, and apparently when he was a CT state trooper a few years ago, they were able to see points, all info, and warrants on Canadian licenses, even.

[AlanM]

A friend of mine who comes from MA, but moved to NH, got a DWI. When she did all she needed to do to get her license back, it was held up by a screw-up in MA. Her license was a NH license. MA hadn't recorded her turning in her MA license, so MA thought the DWI was on the MA license. It all was available from a central database available to all state licensing bureaus.

In other words, MA was able to hold up her getting her NH license back.

[Marcy]

I went poking around the RSA and came up with some interesting info. The short answer to the cop database question is: you bet they trade info.  It's there in the law.

TITLE XXI
MOTOR VEHICLES
CHAPTER 263
DRIVERS' LICENSES
License Suspension and Revocation
Section 263:56-a
    263:56-a Suspension or Revocation for Default or Nonpayment of Fine.

    I. Whenever any defendant:
       (a) Defaults on an arraignment or other scheduled court appearance in connection with a charge or conviction of any offense, or
       (b) Fails to pay a fine or other penalty imposed in connection with a conviction of any offense which a court has determined he is able to pay, or issues a bad check in payment of a fine or other penalty; or
       (c) Fails to comply with a similar order of the director or a court on any matter within the director's or court's jurisdiction, his driver's license or resident or nonresident driving privilege and in any motor vehicle case or related case the resident plates and motor vehicle registration shall be suspended or revoked only upon written consent of the director, effective 30 days after such default or failure, except as provided in subparagraph I(d) of this section.
       (d) If a defendant receives a summons in hand from a law enforcement officer, no further notification to such defendant is required before the suspension of his driving privileges occurs as provided in subparagraph I(c). If a defendant receives a summons in any manner other than in hand by a law enforcement officer, the court or director, as applicable, shall notify such defendant by certified mail at his last known address that his driving privileges shall be suspended 30 days after the mailing of such notification.
    I-a. The department shall cause written notice to be sent to any driver licensed by or person whose vehicle is registered by the state of New Hampshire who defaults as otherwise provided in this section on an appearance, summons, or court order issued in this state. Any person who defaults as provided in subparagraph I(c) shall be required to produce proof of satisfaction of the default either in hand or through the court to the department.
    II. (a) If such defendant fails to appear, pay the fine or comply with an order within the applicable period, as provided in subparagraph I(c) or (d) of this section, or fails to demonstrate that the defendant is financially unable to pay the fine or to comply with the order within the applicable period, the director shall suspend such defendant's driver's license or resident or nonresident driving privilege effective from the applicable date for an indefinite period and mark the defendant's files accordingly.
       (b) The director shall purge the record of violations in default, related suspensions, and all fees and fines assessed against these defaults and suspensions under this section that have been on file for more than 7 years; provided, however, that the director shall not purge such records for a violation of RSA 265:79, RSA 265:82, RSA 265:82-a, RSA 265:115, RSA 265:117, and any offense which is a misdemeanor or felony during the defendant's lifetime until the defendant's driver's license or driving privilege is reinstated. All courts shall notify the director of any such failure on a form prescribed by the director.
       (c) The director shall report the names of all persons whose driver's licenses and driving privileges are suspended under this section to the National Driver Register administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Not only that, they can also deny one for unpaid taxes.

Section 263:15

    263:15 Payment of Tax as Condition of License. ? No official or other person shall issue a license to drive a motor vehicle, without first requiring the applicant to make an affidavit under the penalties of perjury that all resident taxes for which he is liable for the preceding year have been paid.

And while your social security number may not appear on your license, and theoretically you can request that they not retain it in their records, somehow the DMV can make social security numbers available for a whole host of uses.

Section 263:40-a

II. Notwithstanding RSA 91-A, RSA 260:14, RSA 261:60, or any other provision of law to the contrary, the social security number shall not be a public record open to the inspection of any person. The department shall not sell or otherwise provide individual social security numbers or lists of social security numbers for any purpose which is not stated in this paragraph. The department shall only make the social security number available to other states for driver record purposes, to any national driver information repository established pursuant to federal law, or, on their request on a case by case basis(a) to a law enforcement agency that requires the social security number for investigative purposes, or (b) to the department of health and human services for use only in the administration of child support enforcement.