The Driver License Compact is an agreement between states in the United States of America. The compact is used to exchange data between motorist's home state and a state where the motorist incurred a vehicular violation. Not all states are members, and states respond to the data differently.[1]
The Driver License Compact, a framework setting out the basis of a series of laws within adopting states in the United States (as well as similar reciprocal agreements in adopting provinces of Canada), gives states a simple standard for reporting, tracking, and punishing traffic violations occurring outside of their state, without requiring individual treaties between every pair of states. Convictions and dispositions of driving violations are reported to a licensee's home state, which may assess its own administrative actions for the violations. Pre-conviction reports may also be made for serious crimes. Out-of-state suspensions, revocations, or blocked renewals must also be honored by every state within the Compact. A final provision ensures that no one can hold a license in two states by requiring the surrender of the old.[1]
The Driver License Compact came into existence with Nevada becoming the first member in 1960. Organizations in the Western States such as governors came together to cooperate on traffic safety. Under the Beamer Resolution ("Interstate Compacts for Highway Safety Resolution"), Public Law 85-684, enacted on August 20, 1958, 72 Stat. 635 (named for Rep. John V. Beamer, R-Indiana),[2][failed verification] states were automatically given permission to form compacts in the areas of traffic safety. Originally, the Driver License Compact dealt with dangerous driving violations such as drunk driving, reckless driving, commission of a felony involving a motor vehicle and others. Later on, minor violations were included as well. 23 states joined during the 1960's, and the 1986-87 period saw 10 more states join; the rest trickled in until Pennsylvania became the last to join in 1996.[1]
The Driver License Compact is no longer being pushed by the AAMVA as it is being superseded by the Driver License Agreement (DLA), which also replaces the Non-Resident Violator Compact. However, as of 2011[update], there were only three member states to the DLA: Arkansas, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
Some states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Georgia are not members.[3][4] According to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators,[5] Nevada repealed the authorizing legislation in 2007,[6] although it still generally conforms to the agreement through regulations.[4]
Some US states share information and act on driving violations in certain Canadian provinces, in a similar way to the compact:
The National Driver Register (NDR) is a computerized database of information about drivers who have had their licenses revoked or suspended, or who have been convicted of serious traffic violations such as driving while impaired by alcohol or other drugs. State motor vehicle agencies provide NDR with the names of individuals who have lost their "privilege" or who have been convicted of a serious traffic violation. When a person applies for a driver's license the state checks to see if the name is on the NDR file. If a person has been reported to the NDR as a problem driver, the license may be denied.[12]