Guide To Traffic Violations: When Employers Should Be Nervous
It’s not uncommon for people to have an infraction on their driving record. Learn more about the different types of traffic violations that may show up.
Screening ServicesDriving record (MVR) checks
Motor Vehicle Report (MVR) Check
Get insight into a candidate’s driving history, including license status, DUIs, and moving violations with motor vehicle records.
Trust & Safety
Why MVR Checks To Obtain Driving Records Are Critical
Reviewing your candidate’s driving records and safety data is important for positions where employees, volunteers, or contractors will operate motor vehicles for business purposes. An MVR check provides insight into whether a candidate is a safe driver.
These driving record checks help you:
- Hire qualified candidates with safe driving records
- Maintain safety protocols and minimize risk
- Safeguard company assets, employees, and customers
- Maintain your organization’s reputation and trust within the community
- Protect your organization against liability claims
Motor vehicle records may be checked for positions like:
- Commercial drivers
- Couriers and delivery drivers
- Chauffeurs
- Contract drivers in the gig economy
- Any employee who drives company vehicles
- Any volunteer who drives as part of their volunteer work
Results
What Do Motor Vehicle Report (MVR Checks) & Driving Records Checks Show
A Motor Vehicle Report or Driving Records Check searches a state’s department of motor vehicles, or similar entity, to confirm whether a candidate’s driver’s license is valid or has been suspended, and identifies any driving-related violations. For most states, records are returned for the past three years, but some states go back five, seven, or 10 years. An MVR or Driving Records Check is conducted through the state of license issuance (whichever state where your candidate holds a license), and does not show records from other states.
Information required to run a Driving Records Check:
- Candidate’s full name as it appears on the license
- State where license is held
- Driver’s license number
Information reported in a Driving Records Check includes:
- Driver’s license status (valid, suspended, expired, etc.)
- Class (commercial driver’s license, operator, etc.)
- Felony and misdemeanor convictions (DUI, DWI)
- Moving violations, suspensions, and restrictions
resources
More Information About MVR & Driving Record Checks
Compliance
What You Need To Know When
Running Driving Record (MVR) Checks
Employers using a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA), like GoodHire, to run background checks to assess candidates during the hiring process have important responsibilities to ensure a fair and respectful process for the candidate, and to comply with various laws and regulations that govern employment screening. Ban-the-box compliance, targeted screens, and individualized assessments apply only when taking adverse action due to criminal records (e.g., felony convictions for DUI). Some of those laws and regulations include:
Federal Fair Credit
Reporting Act (FCRA)
You must adhere to the FCRA’s disclosure, authorization, and consent requirements. If the results of a driving records search prompts a decision to deny employment, the FCRA requires employers to follow specific adverse action steps.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
The EEOC offers recommended guidelines to conduct individualized assessments so employers can make fair, informed decisions.
Ban The Box & Fair Hiring Laws
A patchwork of state, county, and city laws move the criminal history inquiry until later in the hiring process. These laws may apply based on both the employers’ and candidates’ locations, making it tricky to know which law to follow.
Your Organization’s Hiring Policy
If your business is conducting background checks, your hiring and screening policies should be consistent and compliant to prevent discrimination and to minimize the risk of litigation and enforcement from federal agencies.
