Past Citations, Sanctions To Be Checked Before License Will Be Issued

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) recently implemented the last of the federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act requirements, which will affect some of Pennsylvania’s non-commercial drivers. Under this provision, all drivers, including non-commercial drivers, must satisfy all outstanding citations and sanctions in other states before PennDOT will issue any driver’s license product including a learner’s permit. PennDOT will check all applicants through the National Driver Register before issuing any commercial or non-commercial driver’s license product.

The Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA) is a federal mandate instituted to enhance highway safety by imposing stricter penalties on commercial motor vehicle drivers as well as additional requirements that affect the application process for all drivers, including non-commercial drivers. This mandate requires both commercial and non-commercial drivers to reconcile all outstanding driver sanctions (suspensions, revocations, cancellations or withdrawals) in all states prior to obtaining any driver’s license product.

Consequently, this federal mandate requires states to check the National Driver Register (NDR) prior to issuing any driver’s license product. As part of NDR, the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS) provides the names of states where an individual’s driving privilege is sanctioned. Furthermore, this mandate prohibits PennDOT from issuing any driver’s license product to an individual whose driving privilege has been sanctioned in another state. PennDOT must comply with this federal mandate.

In order to allow a driver who is renewing a commercial or non-commercial driver’s license time to resolve a sanction(s) in another state(s), PennDOT will check NDR six months prior to the expiration of an individual’s driver’s license. If an individual’s driving privilege is sanctioned in another state(s), PennDOT will send a notification letter to the individual providing the name and contact number for the state(s) where the sanction(s) exists. PennDOT will also check NDR three months prior to expiration of an individual’s driver’s license, and if a sanction still exists, a second notification letter will be sent to the individual. The six and three month notification letters allow an individual time to take the necessary steps to clear his/her driving record prior to applying to renew his/her Pennsylvania driver’s license.

Additionally, individuals whose driving privilege is sanctioned in another state(s) will not be able to obtain a replacement (duplicate) Pennsylvania driver’s license or apply for a learner’s permit until the individual has reconciled the sanction(s) with the other state(s). In all cases, it is critical that an individual contacts the state(s) in which he/she has an outstanding driver sanction(s) immediately to resolve the sanction(s) in order to ensure his/her Pennsylvania driving privilege is not affected.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. What is the Problem Driver Pointer System?
A. As part of the National Driver Register, the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS) maintains a record of all individuals whose driving privilege is sanctioned in another state(s). PennDOT uses PDPS to determine if drivers, who are looking to obtain a Pennsylvania driver’s license product, have any outstanding driver sanctions in other states.

Q. Why does PennDOT check my driver license record with other states when I am only licensed to drive in Pennsylvania?
A. As required by the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act (MCSIA), PennDOT must check driving records in other states as part of this federal mandate to ensure unsafe drivers are removed from the road and prevent these unsafe drivers from masking driver sanctions by moving from state to state.

Q. Who is affected?
A. Anyone who has an outstanding driver sanction(s) in another state(s) will be affected by this federal mandate. PennDOT will check the National Driver Register before issuing any individual a commercial or non-commercial driver’s license product.

Q. How will I know if I’m affected?
A. PennDOT will perform a courtesy check of NDR both six months and three months prior to the expiration of your driver’s license. If a sanction(s) is found, PennDOT will mail a notification letter to you (both at six months, and if necessary, three months prior to your driver’s license expiration) providing the name of the state(s) where there is a sanction(s) on your driving record, along with your driver’s license number relevant to the sanction and the state’s contact information so that you can follow up with that state(s) to get the sanction(s) resolved. PennDOT is doing this to give you advance notice in order to clear up any out-of-state sanction(s) in advance of renewing your driver’s license in Pennsylvania. For all other commercial and non-commercial driver’s license products, including replacements (duplicates) and learner’s permits, the NDR check will be performed prior to the issuance of the product. If you have been sanctioned in another state(s), PennDOT will be unable to issue you a Pennsylvania driver’s license product until you reconcile that sanction(s). Therefore, it is imperative that you contact the state(s) where you have the sanction(s) immediately.

Q. When will PennDOT implement these new licensing requirements?
A. Effective January 28, 2007, prior to the issuance of any commercial or non-commercial driver’s license product, PennDOT will check NDR to see if the driver has any outstanding driving sanction(s) in another state(s). In February, PennDOT will begin three-month and six-month courtesy checks in NDR of those individuals whose driver’s license expires in May 2007 and August 2007. Those drivers found to have a driver sanction(s) in another state(s) will receive either a three-month or six-month notification letter, respectively.

Q. If I had a sanction in another state 20 years ago, how far back is my driving record checked in the NDR for sanctions in other states?
A. There is no time limit. Any sanction on your driving record in another state(s) needs to be cleared before PennDOT can issue you a driver’s license product, including a learner’s permit.

Q. What do I need to do if my driver’s license is sanctioned in another state?
A. You must contact the state(s) in question to reconcile the sanction(s). Once your driving record has been cleared in the other state(s), that state will update NDR and PennDOT will be able to issue you a driver’s license product, including a learner’s permit.

Q. How long will it take?
A. Time will vary depending on the sanction(s) you have to reconcile in the other state(s).

Q. How much will it cost? Do I have to pay a restoration fee?
A. There is no additional cost the driver will need to pay to PennDOT. If another state(s) requires any fees to restore your driving privilege, you will need to comply with their restoration procedures.

Q. I received a notification letter from PennDOT stating that I have a sanction in another state, but PennDOT also mailed me a renewal application, does this mean I am still able to renew?
A. You must first reconcile your sanction with the other state(s). PennDOT has mailed you a renewal application in anticipation of you taking the necessary steps to clear your driving record in the other state(s). If you submit your application while your driving privilege is still sanctioned in another state(s), PennDOT will be unable to renew your driver’s license. PennDOT will not renew your driver’s license until NDR shows your driving record is clear in all states.

Q. Can I still drive in Pennsylvania?
A. Yes. If you have a current PA driver’s license in your possession, if your PA driver’s license is not expired and if your PA driving privilege is not otherwise suspended, you may continue to drive in Pennsylvania.

Q. If I have an issue in another state, can I get a “work license” (Occupational Limited License or Probationary License) from Pennsylvania?
A. No.

Q. If it takes a while for the other state to get this information to me, is some type of extension available?
A. No.

Q. When the other state tells me that my driving record has been cleared in that state, is there a way I can check to confirm that information?
A. You can contact PennDOT’s Customer Care Center at 1-800-932-4600 (1-800-228-0676, for the hearing impaired) and a check of NDR can be completed during your call.

Q. Can I still renew my driver’s license on PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services Web site after reconciling the sanction(s) I had in another state(s)?
A. No. You will have to mail your renewal application directly to PennDOT.

Q. Can I still renew my driver’s license at a PennDOT On-line Messenger after reconciling the sanction(s) I had in another state(s)?
A. Yes, but only if you are renewing your non-commercial driver’s license. If you are renewing your commercial driver’s license, you must mail your application directly to PennDOT.