Wisconsin Driving Records

A Wisconsin driving record is a document that lists significant events involving a driver in the state, arranged chronologically from the most recent to the oldest. The driving history report discloses traffic violations committed by a motorist, including court-rendered convictions and administrative license actions.

These records are generally used for employment background checks, insurance assessments, risk management, and promoting public safety. Each U.S. state maintains its own driving records, with their collection, management, and distribution governed by specific federal and state laws.

What Is a Wisconsin Driving Record?

A Wisconsin driving record, popularly referred to as a driver record abstract or motor vehicle record (MVR), is a chronological history of a driver's interactions with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). The agency maintains and issues such reports, particularly through its Division of Motor Vehicles (Wisconsin DMV).

What Is The Difference Between Official MVRs and Public Driving Records?

Official MVRs are comprehensive driving records generated through direct, seamless data sharing between WisDOT and other government agencies.

For example, Wisconsin law enforcement agencies transmit traffic data such as crashes, citations, case dispositions, and driver behavior directly to WisDOT via the Badger TraCS (Traffic and Criminal Software). This process ensures official MVRs are accurate and better suited for enforcing and monitoring regulatory compliance.

In addition to these official records, third-party services like RecordsFinder compile public driving records from a wide range of public and private sources into one convenient, searchable database.

While some data brokers may prioritize volume over accuracy, RecordsFinder is designed to place a strong emphasis on maintaining current and comprehensive data, offering a more accessible alternative for individuals and businesses seeking quick insights into a driver's public record.

Why Would You Need a Driving Record?

You may need your Wisconsin driving record under the following situations:

• License Renewal: During license renewal, the WisDOT reviews your driver record for accumulated points, violations, or unresolved suspensions. If the record reflects excessive infractions, your renewal may be denied or delayed until all issues are resolved.
• Employer Requests: If you are applying for a job that involves driving a company vehicle, your employer may request your driver report to assess your suitability for the role and ensure you meet safety and insurance requirements.
• Insurance Assessment: Insurers may examine your driving history for accidents, citations, and suspensions to evaluate the likelihood of future claims and the potential for higher payouts.
• Occupational License Petitions: In Wisconsin, you may apply for an occupational license to drive for work and household duties if your regular license is suspended or revoked. If denied, you may petition the circuit court, which requires a copy of your driving record.
• Legal Purposes: If you have a history of safe driving with few violations, your attorney may use this to demonstrate responsible behavior, potentially reducing damages in a personal injury case and supporting a fairer outcome.

What Information Is Included in a Driver Report?

A Wisconsin driving report tells what kind of driver you are by revealing these critical pieces of information:

• The driver's name and address
• ID card information
• Driver's license information
  • Class
  • Status
  • Issuance, expiration, and renewal dates
  • Endorsements and restrictions
• Violations
• Convictions
• Demerit points
• License suspensions, revocations, or cancellations
• Reinstatements
• Crashes
• Citations

Types of Driver Records Available in Wisconsin

The following are the different types of driver records you may obtain in Wisconsin:

• Certified Driving Record: This comprehensive document, marked with an official seal, generally provides a full history of driving-related incidents and is valid for use in government transactions and legal proceedings.
• Non-Certified Driving Record: Non-certified driving records typically show a summary of the driver's background and events, including current license status and a list of accidents and violations. They are intended primarily for personal use and are not admissible in court.
• Online Driving Record Abstract: Accessible through the WisDOT online system, this simplified version typically contains limited information, such as basic personal details and recent violations.

Traffic Violations and Tickets in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin State Patrol (WSP) and local law enforcement agencies collaborate to implement traffic rules specified in Wisconsin Statutes (Wis. Stat. ) Chapters 340 to 351.

Drivers who violate these statutes may be pulled over and issued citations, while those involved in more serious offenses may be taken into immediate custody.

Common Types of Traffic Violations

In Wisconsin, traffic violations are classified as either moving or non-moving violations. Depending on the nature and severity of the offense, violators may face civil or criminal penalties, ranging from fines, penalty points, license disqualification, and, in severe cases, imprisonment.

Moving Violations

• Speeding: Wis. Stat. Section 346.57 requires you to adjust speed for weather, traffic, or road conditions and follow posted limits, such as 15 mph near schools and 70 mph on freeways. A speeding ticket typically brings fines from $30 to $600, doubled in school or construction zones, plus demerit points.
• Reckless Driving: In Wisconsin, driving in a manner that risks safety or property damage constitutes reckless driving under Wis. Stat. Section 346.62. If you cause serious injury, it is a Class H felony, punishable by up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
• Operating While Intoxicated (OWI)/Driving Under the Influence (DUI): If caught driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or controlled substances, you could face fines between $350 and $2,000, along with license suspension or revocation. Additional penalties may include completing the Intoxicated Driver Program (IDP), installing an ignition interlock device (IID), and 6 to 12 months in jail.

Non-Moving Violations

• Driving Uninsured: Driving without the minimum required liability insurance in Wisconsin may lead to a $500 fine, license suspension, a mandatory SR-22 filing with the WisDOT, and a reinstatement fee between $60 and $100.
• Seatbelt Violations: If you are not wearing a seatbelt, you may be fined $10. If a child is not properly restrained, you face fines of up to $75 and higher penalties for repeated violations.
• Improper Display of License Plates: In Wisconsin, failing to properly display license plates, such as missing a front plate, using unreadable or obscured plates, or incorrect sticker placement, may result in fines up to $150.

What To Do When You Get a Traffic Ticket

Below are the steps you should take to deal with a ticket in Wisconsin properly and promptly:

• Check the Citation: Carefully review all details, including the alleged offense, location, and the specific law you are accused of violating. Look for any errors or inconsistencies that may challenge the accuracy of the officer's report.
• Decide How to Respond: If you are responding to a traffic citation, consider the following options:
  • Pay the Ticket: Settle the fine by visiting the court clerk's office, mailing the payment, or using the court's website or online payment system. The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) payment systemalso processes payments through MasterCard, Visa, or electronic check.
  • Challenge the Citation: If you choose to contest a ticket in Wisconsin, you may submit a not-guilty plea to the court via mail or in person if a court appearance is required. If found not guilty at trial, fines and demerits are waived, but court costs still apply.
  • Enroll in a Driver Safety Course: You may also take a driver safety course approved by the WisDOT to dismiss a traffic ticket and potentially qualify for reduced insurance premiums.
• Act Promptly: After receiving a traffic ticket, respond by the deadline listed on the citation. Failing to do so may result in added penalties, maximum fines, and possible license suspension.
• Review Your Driving History: Request a copy of your driving record to verify the accuracy of the details and check if any suspensions resulted from the ticket.

How Does the Wisconsin Point System Work?

Wisconsin uses a demerit point system, where a specific number of points is added to your driving record based on the type of offense and the license you hold.

For example, six demerit points are assigned for alcohol or drug-related offenses, such as DUI, or for speeding 20 mph or more over the limit. Inattentive driving results in four points. If you accumulate 12 or more points within 12 months, your license will be suspended.

Here are the suspension durations based on license type and accumulated points:

• Six-month suspension: For individuals with an instruction permit, probationary license, or no license who accumulate between 12 and 30 points.
• One-year suspension: For those with a regular driver's license or commercial driver's license (CDL) who accumulate over 30 points.

How Long Do Violations Stay on Your Driving History?

In Wisconsin, most traffic violations stay on a driver's record abstract for five years from the date of conviction before they may be removed.

However, OWI/DUI offenses committed on or after January 1, 1989, and certain commercial driving convictions may remain permanently. Under the current state guidelines, a lifetime retention is defined as 55 years.

Violations negatively impact a driver's report, increase insurance costs, and may lead to long-term loss of driving privileges.

Can You Remove Violations from Your Record?

Wisconsin laws strictly prohibit the sealing or expunging of records involving traffic citations, small claims, and civil cases. However, expungement of certain criminal records may be permitted under specific conditions.

A court may grant expungement if the offense carries a maximum sentence of six years and the individual was under 18 at the time of the offense.

How To Check Your Vehicle History

There are several ways you can obtain a copy of your motor vehicle history in Wisconsin:

• Online: You may secure a mailed paper copy of your Wisconsin driving record through the Driver Record-Entry online service from WisDOT's website. Note that when you request a record online, the copy typically contains only limited information.
• One-Time Mail Request: Download and fill out the Vehicle/Driver Record Information Request (Form MV2896) and mail it along with the payment to WisDOT's Driver Records Office.
• In-Person: Another driving history lookup option is visiting any Wisconsin DMV customer service center. Ensure you bring the completed Form MV2896 and any additional documents required.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Driving Record in Wisconsin?

When purchasing your driver report from the WisDOT by mail or in person, you will be charged a $7 fee for a certified copy and $12 for an uncertified one. Payment may be made via money order or check.

Meanwhile, requesting your driving history through the online payment system costs $5, with an additional service or convenience fee if paid via PayPal or credit/debit card. However, the service fee is waived if you pay online using a checking or savings account.

Processing times may vary, but requests are typically reviewed within one business day of receipt.

How To Check Your Driving History for Free

Although requesting your Wisconsin driving record from the WisDOT typically costs a fee, you may use the WCCA case search tool to access information about filings and events associated with your previous traffic-related cases at no cost.

What Happens If You Have a Bad Driving Record?

A bad driving record in Wisconsin is characterized by a history of violations that indicate a pattern of unsafe or reckless driving behavior.

This can mean accumulating a high number of demerit points within a short period, having a license suspended or revoked due to multiple traffic violations, or being involved in at-fault accidents.

In Wisconsin, moving violations may be misdemeanors or felonies. Misdemeanors, like texting while driving or distracted driving, may result in fines, up to 9 months in jail, and demerit points. Felonies, such as vehicular homicide or hit-and-run involving injury or death, carry harsher penalties, including over a year in prison, fines, and license revocation.

Meanwhile, non-moving violations like parking on a highway usually do not affect a driving record. However, safety-related issues, such as broken lights or faulty brakes, may lead to demerit points, fines, mandatory repairs, and potential license suspension for repeat offenses.

Traffic warnings are not recorded on a driver's official record and do not incur demerit points or fines. However, law enforcement may document them for future reference.

How Does a Bad Driving Record Affect Insurance and Employment?

If your driving history includes accidents, DUI convictions, or speeding citations, you are likely to face higher auto insurance premiums, as insurers perceive you as someone who has a higher risk for accidents or claims.

In Wisconsin, drivers convicted of DUI typically see an average increase of $105 in their annual car insurance premiums.

Employers may also terminate or refuse to hire individuals with poor driving records. Certain companies and educational institutions have policies that limit the number of points employees can accumulate on their driver reports.

For example, the University of Wisconsin–Madison prohibits faculty and staff from driving for university business if they have seven or more demerit points.

Who Can Access Your Wisconsin Driving History?

While the Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) andWisconsin's Open Records Law give the public the right to access your driving history, these laws also protect your personal and confidential details from unauthorized use or disclosure.

Thus, the WisDOT cannot share personal and highly restricted data from your driving history, such as your name, address, photograph, signature, ID card information, and medical details, with individuals or entities not permitted by federal and state laws.

Third parties may get your personal driving record details only if they meet certain conditions, such as:

• Authorized individuals: With written consent from the record holder
• Courts and law enforcement: For legal proceedings and investigations
• Government agencies: For civil, criminal, or administrative actions
• Businesses: To verify information, prevent fraud, or collect debts
• Insurance providers: For underwriting, rating, fraud prevention, or claims
• Private investigators: For legally valid security or investigation purposes
• Researchers: To compile reports without disclosing personal identities

FAQs About Wisconsin Driving Records

Check the following frequently asked questions (FAQs) to gain more insights into Wisconsin driving records:

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