If DMV record is clean you're good?

[blue42]

There are a few ways to ask this: When pulled over for a traffic stop, is the driver good to go if his DMV record is clean and there are no outstanding warrants? Or, if DMV says the license is good, but some other database says it isn't, will there be a problem? Do police check driver's license status through the DMV database or through somewhere else? (Virginia.) Thanks.

[ChesCopPodz]

I'm a little confused about what you're asking. If by "good to go", you mean that a driver with a clean record won't get a ticket, then that's not necessarily true.

If you're asking about being suspended by another state, then if that state and VA have an agreement, then VA can suspend you for having a suspended license in another state.

I worked in VA for 5 years. When running a driver during a traffic stop, we would run them through VA DMV, unless the person told me they had a license in another state.

[blue42]

Thanks. I mean theoretically if court records said the person's license had a problem but the DMV said it was good, an officer on a traffic stop would consider the license good?
By the way, in all my encounters I've found police to be very restrained and professional. A lot of the strongest people in the world are of the worst type, whereas most law-abiding people just aren't very strong, but police are strong and still decent. I appreciate that.

[Citicop]

In my state (Missouri) a court cannot suspend your license. The only way it can get suspended is for the DMV (Department of Revenue here) to do it. If DOR says your license is good, then your license is good.

Now, if you don't show up in court, a court CAN (and many do) contact DOR and request a suspension of your license. This happens all the time. But until they actually DO suspend it, the driver's license is still valid.

So sometimes, a driver with a suspended license gets a ticket for driving while suspended. Then, the suspension expires and they get their license back. But if they don't go to court to get the ticket taken care of, they wind up with a warrant for Driving While Suspended even though their license is still good. Then, when DOR gets the request from the court, the person's license will get suspended AGAIN...

Does any of that make sense?

-Citicop.

[retdetsgt]

Here, the court can order the license be suspended, but it's DMV that actually does it. If DMV says your license is good, then it's good. We run our checks through DMV, not the court.

[blue42]

Thank you gentlemen. That makes sense. Assuming that Virginia does things the same then my question is answered.

[ChesCopPodz]

Yes Virginia does the same. The court can order the license suspended, but that order has to go to DMV, who actually suspends the license.