U
nderstanding the Montana Driving Record
July 20, 2006 1
What information is included in a Montana Driving Record?
A Montana Driving Record, also known as a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR), consists of
information that is assembled by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Montana Department
of Justice. Five major categories of information are compiled:
• personal history information;
• licensing information;
• convictions for offenses regulating the operation of motor vehicles;
• driver improvement / corrective action records; and
• accident history.
T
he Montana Driving Record preserves important personal history information about a
driver who has applied for a license. The record also includes details about the driver
license examination process; the subsequent issuance, denial, cancellation, suspension,
revocation or surrender of any motor vehicle operator’s license; driver performance; and
any regulatory processes that have been enacted by the Motor Vehicle Division in
response to unsafe driver performance or other requirements of Montana law.
All of these records are gathered, retained, utilized and disclosed for the primary purpose
of authorizing, promoting and regulating safe, legal operation of motor vehicles on
Montana highways.
Personal history information includes the individual’s true full name, address information,
date of birth, social security number, any current or prior driver’s license number, sex,
height, weight, eye color, hair color and photograph. Some categories of information
(address, social security number, photograph and medical records) are protected and are
deemed under the law to be highly restricted personal information.
Highly restricted personal information is only disclosed to others under tightly regulated
circumstances that are specifically authorized or required under the law.
Licensing information includes the class of the license(s) applied for and/or issued, driver
license restrictions, endorsements, license status, and expiration date. To establish and
document driver performance, the Montana Driving Record also includes details about
court reported convictions for motor vehicle-related offenses and traffic accidents
occurring in conjunction with a conviction for violations deemed to be causally related.
The record includes details about driver improvement / corrective actions that have been
implemented in accordance with conviction reports or judicial orders. Driver
improvement actions may include driver control requirements (for example, court-
ordered imposition of breath alcohol ignition interlock restrictions); court ordered
suspensions for failure to appear, comply or pay fines; proof of financial responsibility;
the amount or status of license reinstatement fees; and any other regulatory or
enforcement actions that have been implemented as a result of a statutory requirement
or an order from a court.
All of this information is recorded and maintained in a manner that is consistent with
state and federal law, all applicable regulations, standards and administrative systems
that have been set up to ensure quality assurance and reciprocity between states. These
systems include the National Driver Register (NDR), the Problem Driver Pointer System
(PDPS) and the Commercial Drivers License Information System (CDLIS).