§ 3901. The compact
The Driver License Compact, hereinafter called “the compact,” is entered into with
all other jurisdictions legally joining, in the form substantially as follows. (Added 1987, No. 62, § 1.)
§ 3902. Findings and declaration of policy—Article I
(a) The party states find that:
(1) the safety of their highways is materially affected by the degree of compliance with
state and local laws relating to the operation of motor vehicles;
(2) violation of state law or municipal ordinances is evidence that the violator engages
in conduct that is likely to endanger the safety of persons and property;
(3) the continuance in force of a license to drive is predicated upon compliance with
laws and ordinances relating to the operation of motor vehicles, in whichever jurisdiction
the vehicle is operated.
(b) It is the policy of each of the party states to:
(1) promote compliance with the laws, ordinances, and administrative rules relating to
the operation of motor vehicles by their operators in each of the jurisdictions where
operators drive motor vehicles;
(2) make the reciprocal recognition of licenses to drive and eligibility for licensure
more just and equitable by considering the overall compliance with motor vehicle laws,
ordinances, and administrative rules as a condition precedent to the continuance or
issuance of any license by reason of which the licensee is authorized or permitted
to operate a motor vehicle in any of the party states. (Added 1987, No. 62, § 1.)
§ 3903. Definitions—Article II
As used in this compact:
(1) “Conviction” means a conviction of any offense related to the use or operation of
a motor vehicle that is prohibited by state law, municipal ordinance, or administrative
rule; or a forfeiture of bail, bond, or other security deposited to secure appearance
by a person charged with having committed any such offense, and which conviction or
forfeiture is required to be reported to the licensing authority.
(2) “Executive head” means the governor.
(3) “Home state” means the state that has issued and has the power to suspend or revoke
the use of the license or permit to operate a motor vehicle.
(4) “Licensing authority” means the commissioner of the department of motor vehicles.
(5) “State” means a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District
of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. (Added 1987, No. 62, § 1.)
§ 3904. Reports of conviction—Article III
The licensing authority of a party state shall report each conviction of a person
from another party state occurring within its jurisdiction to the licensing authority
of the home state of the licensee. The report shall clearly identify the person convicted;
describe the violation specifying the section of the statute, code, or ordinance violated;
identify the court in which action was taken; indicate whether a plea of guilty or
not guilty was entered, or the security; and shall include any special findings made
in connection with the report. (Added 1987, No. 62, § 1.)
§ 3905. Effect of conviction—Article IV
(a) The licensing authority in the home state, for the purposes of suspension, revocation,
or limitation of the license to operate a motor vehicle, shall give the same effect
to the conduct reported, pursuant to Article III of this compact, as it would if the
conduct had occurred in the home state, in the case of convictions for:
(1) manslaughter or negligent homicide resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle;
(2) driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or narcotic drug, or
under the influence of any other drug to a degree that renders the driver incapable
of safely driving a motor vehicle;
(3) any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used;
(4) failure to stop and render aid in the event of a motor vehicle accident resulting
in the death or personal injury of another.
(b) As to other convictions, reported pursuant to Article III, the licensing authority
in the home state shall give such effect to the conduct as is provided by the laws
of the home state.
(c) If the laws of a party state do not provide for offenses or violations described in
precisely the words employed in subsection (a) of this Article, the party state shall
construe the descriptions appearing in subsection (a) of this section as being applicable
to and identifying those offenses or violations of a substantially similar nature,
and the laws of the party state shall contain such provisions as may be necessary
to ensure that full effect is given to this Article. (Added 1987, No. 62, § 1; amended 2017, No. 83, § 161(4).)
§ 3906. Applications for new licenses—Article V
Upon application for a license to drive, the licensing authority in a party state
shall determine whether the applicant has ever held, or is the holder of, a license
to drive issued by any other party state. The licensing authority in the state where
application is made shall not issue a license to drive to the applicant if:
(1) the applicant has held a license, but the same has been suspended by reason, in whole
or in part, of a violation and if the suspension period has not terminated;
(2) the applicant has held a license, but it has been revoked by reason, in whole or in
part, of a violation; and if the revocation has not terminated, except that after
the expiration of one year from the date the license was revoked, the person may make
application for a new license if permitted by law. The licensing authority may refuse
to issue a license to the applicant if after investigation, the licensing authority
determines that it will not be safe to grant to the person the privilege of driving
a motor vehicle on the public highways;
(3) the applicant is the holder of a license to drive issued by another party state and
currently in force unless the applicant surrenders the license. (Added 1987, No. 62, § 1.)
§ 3907. Applicability of other laws—Article VI
Except as expressly required by provisions of this compact, nothing contained in the
compact shall be construed to affect the rights of any party state to apply any of
its other laws relating to licenses to drive to any person or circumstance, nor to
invalidate or prevent any driver license agreement or other cooperative arrangement
between a party state and a nonparty state. (Added 1987, No. 62, § 1.)
§ 3908. Compact administrator; interchange of information—Article VII
(a) The head of the licensing authority of each party state shall be the administrator
of this compact for his or her state. The administrators acting jointly, shall have
the power to formulate all necessary and proper procedures for the exchange of information
under this compact. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall furnish to the appropriate
authorities of any other party state, any information or documents reasonably necessary
to facilitate the administration of Articles III, IV, and V of this compact. The
Commissioner shall not be entitled to any additional compensation on account of his
or her service as administrator, but shall be entitled to expenses incurred in connection
with his or her duties and responsibilities as administrator, in the same manner as
for expenses incurred in connection with any other duties or responsibilities of his
or her office or employment.
(b) The administrators of each state shall furnish to the administrator of each other
party state any information or documents reasonably necessary to facilitate the administration
of this compact. (Added 1987, No. 62, § 1.)
§ 3909. Entry into force; withdrawal—Article VIII
(a) This compact shall become effective as to any state when it has been enacted into
law.
(b) Any party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a repealing statute, but
no withdrawal shall take effect until six months after the executive head of the withdrawing
state has given notice of the withdrawal to the executive heads of all other party
states. No withdrawal shall affect the validity or applicability by the licensing
authorities of states remaining party to the compact of any report of conviction occurring
prior to the withdrawal. (Added 1987, No. 62, § 1.)
§ 3910. Construction and severability—Article IX
This compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate its purposes. The provisions
of this compact shall be severable; and if any phrase, clause, sentence, or provision
of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any party state
or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person,
or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder to this compact and
the applicability to any government, agency, person, or circumstance shall not be
affected. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any party
state, the compact shall remain in effect as to the remaining states and in effect
as to the state affected as to all severable matters. (Added 1987, No. 62, § 1.)