Knowing what your driving record says can be extremely beneficial in a lot of different circumstances. It will give you the advantage of knowing what's on that report before it gets into the hands of a potential employer, a court of law, or anyone else that may have a reason to look up your state of Florida driver's license.Check it out for yourself, first.
In Florida, there are over fourteen million licensed drivers, with hundreds of thousands being added every day. Whether you live within the state, come down to escape the harsh northern winters, or have ever visited, it's extremely important to know what your driving history says. The last thing you want is to be surprised by the information and have there be nothing you can do about it.
By checking the status of your license regularly, you will know before anyone else what the status is; this way you can tackle any problems that come up and get them all taken care of before you go to look for a job. Also, you will know first if your license has been suspended. If you are pulled over and the cop has to be the one to tell you that you are not allowed to be driving, it can result in a heavy ticket or even an arrest. At the very least, you won't be allowed to drive your car home and will have to either have it towed or call someone to come drive it for you.
What Will My Florida Driver's License Check Show Me?
After verifying who you are through your legal information, the very first thing an FL DMV driver's license check will tell you is if your license is valid. Simply put, if you are legally allowed to be on the road. If your license is suspended for any reason, the Florida online driver's license check will tell you that, too.
Another thing the Florida driver's license check by name will show you is what kind of license you are permitted to have. Most of the time, this will be the standard driver's license (Class E), but if you have a commercial driver's license, that will be there as well.
The check will also show any major traffic violations you may have had in the state of Florida. Traffic citations, accidents, and things of that nature will be on the report. If you have any points on your license, even if it hasn't been suspended, those will show up as well.
Who Can Access my Driving Record?
Legally, you are the only person who can access your personal driving history. Everyone else who wants it has to have express written permission. Employers, especially, like to have this information, because it can help determine who is a good fit for the job. If it's a job that requires a lot of driving, anywhere from trucking to pizza delivery, they want to make sure you know how to obey the rules of the road. They don't want to run the risk of hiring you and have you not being able to perform the job because of a suspended license or a shaky driving history.
Nowadays, more and more non-driving employers are looking at driving histories, as well. With the job market being the way it is, many people are out there trying to find a job. This means companies are looking at every single angle to determine who the right fit is for them. Something as small as a clean driving history can set someone above the rest.
If an employer accesses your driving record and finds something questionable, they have to notify you with a pre-adverse action disclosure letter. Then, they have to give you time to do something about it before any decisions are made. For example, if it's an error or something like an unpaid fine, they must give you the opportunity to take care of it. They aren't even allowed to say no to hiring you.
Courts of law can also subpoena your driving history, depending on the case involved. If it's a traffic violation, DUI, or any other case relating to the operation of a motor vehicle, they will look at your history to determine if it is an established pattern. If you are trying to get out of a ticket, and there are dozens more listed on your history, you may just be out of luck. Conversely, if you have a clean driving record, the court may decide to show a bit of mercy. Either way, knowing what's on the report before the court does can be a huge advantage.
What Can I Do If Something Shows Up on My Driving Record?
The short answer is it depends on what you find. Obviously, if it's something like an unpaid fine or failing to go to traffic school, you need to simply do what it says. You also need to obtain proof that you did; something in the form of a receipt or a passed certificate from traffic school.
If you think there is an error on your report, you need to contact your local DMV office. Depending on the severity of the mistake, they will either correct it for you or give you the steps you need to get it changed. No matter what, you are probably going to have to provide proof. So make sure you keep records of any and all exchanges with the DMV or issuing officer. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may need to contact an attorney who specializes in traffic cases.
What Kinds of Driving Records are Available?
In the state of Florida, there are three kinds of driving histories available for you to see. It all depends on how far back you want to go and what kind of information you want on it.
- Complete driving history – As the name suggests, this is the record that will encompass everything about your Florida driving history. It will go back as far as you've had your license, and list everything associated with it. It will have traffic citations, traffic schools, major accidents, DUIs, and more.
- Seven year history – This record will go back seven years and will show most of the items listed in the complete history, but not all. Some of the more minor issues, such as traffic violations (provided they didn't result in an accident) and where you went to traffic school will not be on this record.
- Three year history – This will show all of the same information as the seven-year history, but, as the name suggests, only goes back in three years of driving history.
How Can My License Get Suspended?
There are many reasons why a license would be suspended in Florida, but some of the most common are:
- Not having auto insurance – The state of Florida requires you to have at least $10,000 in both personal injury and property damage insurance. This is to help cover you in case of an accident. For example, if you pull out of parking space and forget to check your blind spot, you are covered to a certain amount. In order to get your license reinstated, you may need to pay a fine.
- Not going to traffic school – If a court has ordered you to attend traffic school, due to a violation of one of the driving laws, and you skip out, they can suspend your license. Just be sure to follow all of the court-ordered mandates. Legally, you are only allowed to go to traffic school only five times in your entire driving life, and only once per one-year period. If you have already met those requirements, you may just have to wait out the suspension.
- DUI – If you get a DUI (driving under the influence) violation, your license can be suspended on the spot. For most people, this means driving after you've had too much to drink, but it does include other drugs, as well. If the officer feels you are a danger to yourself or others, you can also be arrested, which means going to court and facing fines or jail time.
- Not meeting vision standards – If you fail to pass a standard vision test, your license can be suspended until you have proven you have taken steps to get it corrected. This could mean re-examining your prescription or having surgery. All you would need to do is walk back into the DMV and prove you are once again fit to drive.
- Too many points – Every time you have a traffic violation, it can result in points being added to your license. Once you get too many points, your license could be suspended or even revoked. In order to get your license back, you may need to pay a fine, attend traffic school, or simply wait out the points.
What Kinds of Violations Adds Points to My License?
Almost all traffic violations have the potential to add points to your license. It is up to the issuing officer if they want to give you a ticket (with the associated points) or simply let you off with a warning. Some of the most common point violations are:
- Causing an accident due to speeding or recklessness – This is one of the most major point violations there is, and it will add six points to your license. The state of Florida does everything it can to encourage safe driving, which is why the penalty is so harsh.
- Passing a stopped school bus – If you see a stopped school bus in Florida, the law requires all lanes of traffic to stop. Failure to do so will result in four points being added to your license. Again, it's all about safety.
- Littering – A fairly minor violation in the grand scheme of things, but it will add three points to your license. It's something easily avoidable that can wrack up points quickly if you do it too much.
- Speeding – If you are caught speeding, points can be issued to your license, depending on how lenient the officer feels like being. If you are going fifteen or more miles per hour above the speed limit, it can result in four points being added. If it's under fifteen miles per hour over the limit, it's a three-point offense.
- Child not restrained properly – In Florida, the child restraint laws in a car are very strict. A child under one-year old and twenty pounds has to be in an approved car seat and be facing toward the rear. Between four and twelve years old, the child has to be either in a car or booster seat and sitting in the back. They are not allowed in the front seat of a car until they are thirteen years or older. If you are caught violating one of these rules, three points can be added on to your driver's license.
These are just some of the violations that will add points to your license, but there are many more out there. The best way to avoid having points added to your license is to obey all traffic laws and do whatever the officers and the courts tell you to do.
The effects on your license depend on how many points you get. If you get twelve points within a year, you're license will be suspended for thirty days, and it goes up from there. If you get eighteen points within eighteen months, your license will be suspended for ninety days, and if you get twenty-four points within thirty-six months, your license will be suspended for a whole year. At that point, you will have no choice but to wait out the suspensions on your license. If you are caught driving on a suspended license, you could be arrested and face heavy fines or jail time.
Again, knowing what your driving history says is extremely important information. It gives you the power to do something about it if there are things you don't like on there. And, even better, it lets you take care of them quietly, without any potential employers, courts, or police officers having the ability to surprise you with this information. By following all of the rules of the road, doing what the officers and courts tell you, and taking care of any important issues as they come up, you can avoid many of the major pitfalls associated with negative marks on your record. Even if there is a mark, you can prove that you have taken care of it, or begun the process to get it removed if it was an error on the part of the DMV.
For more information as to what your Florida driving record says, or to order the report and see for yourself, visit www.4safedrivers.com. They can get you all of the information you need very quickly and answer all of your questions regarding your driving record or any other legal information you may want or need.
