Records of convictions, crashes, and similar entries can generally be released, but some personal details stay confidential. Information about a driver's physical or mental condition, for example, is not open to the public.
For a provisional licensee, ignoring the court date on a traffic citation leads to a suspension of the driving privilege that lasts until the driver goes to court. Handling every ticket on time keeps the license in good standing.
Revocation cancels your driving privilege outright, and you may not seek a new license until the full revocation period set for your case has run out. At that point you must apply again and typically pay fees and pass the required tests.
Deliberately fleeing or trying to evade an officer who has signaled you to stop is a crime, not an ordinary traffic ticket. Depending on the circumstances it can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony, with possible jail time, fines, impoundment, and loss of the license.
Until you are licensed, every drive must include a licensed supervising driver riding with you. No hour of the day and no destination, not even your road test appointment, makes it legal to drive alone on a permit.
Proof of insurance shows that you meet the financial responsibility law, so handing over a false or doctored card is treated as fraud. The consequences can include criminal charges, towing of the vehicle, court fines, and suspension of your license and registration.
Because a driver's license is an official identity document issued by the government, tampering with one or producing a fake counts as forgery or fraud. On top of criminal charges and possible jail, the offender can lose the privilege to drive.
You can request your official record in person at a DMV office, and state DMV websites also offer it online. Checking it from time to time helps you spot mistakes and keep track of points or suspensions.
Implied consent laws make a refusal to submit to breath, blood, or urine testing grounds for suspension. A DUI conviction also leads to suspension in every state.
Your license can be suspended or revoked for serious or repeated violations. A DUI conviction and a conviction for speeding through a school zone can each lead to that penalty.
At a traffic stop or a crash scene, the officer will ask to see your driver's license, the vehicle's registration, and proof that the vehicle is insured, so keep the registration and insurance papers in the vehicle at all times.
During a traffic stop, the safest course is to remain in your car, keep your hands where the officer can see them, and wait for instructions. Getting out or reaching for papers before being asked can look threatening.
Practicing with either person is appropriate: a parent or guardian with a valid license and a certified driving school instructor can each serve as the supervising driver for someone who holds a learner's permit.
A ticket for a traffic violation that ends in a conviction puts points on your record, and serious offenses count for more points than minor ones. If the total climbs too high within a set period, your license can be suspended.
A hit-and-run, meaning you drive away from a crash in which someone was injured or died, is a serious crime. It can mean prison time, heavy fines, and loss of your license. All drivers involved in a crash are required to stop, assist the injured, and exchange information.
Drivers on a two-lane road must stop for a school bus that is loading or unloading children with its red lights flashing. Because passing it puts children in danger, the violation brings heavy fines, points on the record, and a possible suspension.
Getting behind the wheel while your license is suspended or revoked is treated as a crime, typically a misdemeanor. It can lead to a longer suspension or revocation, impoundment of the car, fines, and even jail.
Every question in this set has its own page with the correct answer and an explanation.
