National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation oversees the National Driver Register (NDR). This national database contains information regarding drivers who have had their licenses or driving privileges suspended, revoked, blocked, or otherwise taken away. The NDR records only point to records maintained by state motor vehicle departments such as the Driver Control Unit of the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Also, the NDR contains only identification information and not complete historical information. The state DMV records contain the substantive information regarding the actual license suspension or revocation.
The federal law governing the NDR mandates that all state motor vehicle departments and driver licensing officials must submit information regarding individuals whose right to drive a motor vehicle has been denied, suspended or revoked for cause, or who have been convicted of certain serious traffic related violations, such as DUI.
You have a right to request for any information regarding your driving record that may be contained in the National Driver Register by sending a written request to the NDR. If your status in the NDR is “ELG” or ELIGIBLE, this means that your privilege to drive in a particular state is valid. If your NDR status is “NOT,” this means that your privilege to drive is invalid. You would need to contact the department of motor vehicles to obtain the specific details relating to your NDR record(s). A NDR status of LIC means that you’re licensed in a particular state. The NDR code NEN means that your right to drive is invalid due to non-moving violations.
Although States use the NDR as part of their driver licensing process, it is the responsibility of each state’s motor vehicle agency, such as the Mass. RMV, to ensure the accuracy of the data submitted to the NDR. The NDR functions as the repository of the data it but can make no changes to this information. This is because each state’s DMV maintains the sale responsibility for the issuance and renewal of all driver licenses, which includes suspension/revocation actions that have been taken against your right to operate. Reinstatement requirements must be resolved directly with any state DMV which has taken the action against your license or driving privileges.
If the Massachusetts RMV is involved, you may contact a lawyer who specializes in Registry cases, such as Attorney Brian E. Simoneau.