PROVIDENCE, RI – June 21, 2006 – Obtaining an official copy of a personal driver history record just got easier, thanks to a new service available through Rhode Island’s official Web site at www.RI.gov.
Public driver records requested through the new online service contains three years of driving history. The driver record check service adheres to the rules of the Federal Driver Privacy Protection Act of 1994 to protect the privacy of Rhode Island drivers while providing access to public information. Private information such as address and social security number will not be released.
Approximately 4,500 driver records are requested per year and often take up to three days to receive in the mail. Even walk-in requests are not immediately processed at the counter. All requests are queued up daily, hand certified, and then mailed to citizens. This new online service will save both the agency and the user an exceptional amount of time by fulfilling requests immediately.
“By offering driver history record checks online, we are able save people a trip to the DMV,” said Brian Peterson, Associate Director of the Department of Administration. “We’ve had much success with the online vehicle renewals and look forward to offering more value added electronic services.”
The cost to purchase a driver history record is $18.00. To access a driver history record, users must provide a name, license number, and date or birth of the individual whose record is being requested. Payment for a driver history record can be made with a Visa or MasterCard.
This new service is part of an overhaul of the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles Web site (www.DMV.RI.gov). Instead of calling a motor vehicle branch to get answers to frequently asked questions, answers are now easily found on the agency site. “The Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles takes customer service very seriously in all aspects of service delivery, whether it’s at the counter or on the Internet,” said Charles F. “Ted” Dolan, Administrator of the Division of Motor Vehicles, “I’m very excited to offer Rhode Islanders another means of finding information through this easy to navigate Web site.”
The new Web site uses the state portal’s new search technology to easily locate services and information contained within the DMV Web site. The search engine is updated daily and displays information in a format similar to other popular search engines commonly used by citizens. Branch location features are prominently displayed and are designed to assist users in choosing a motor vehicle branch that best fits their needs. In addition, forms are easier than ever to find and can be conveniently browsed from one Web page.
The Division of Motor Vehicles Web site and the personal driver history record service were created in partnership with RI.gov, which also built and maintains the state’s Web portal at www.RI.gov.