What are New Hampshire Public Traffic Records?
New Hampshire public traffic records are also known as Driving Records or Driver History Reports. These records feature information regarding the road use of persons within state limits. In New Hampshire, driver history records are a compilation of vehicle history information and motorists' personal information. Personal information, in this case, includes the address of the record holder, full name and previous names if available, the date of birth, insurance filing, etc. On the other hand, vehicle history includes demerit points accumulated, court convictions, license suspensions or revocation, accident history, traffic violations, etc.
The state of New Hampshire maintains and issues three kinds of driver history records: the certified driver record, the non-certified driver record, and the insurance driver record. The New Hampshire Department of Safety-Division of Motor Vehicle is charged with maintaining the driver history records.
Are Traffic Records Public in New Hampshire
Yes, New Hampshire driving records are public under the Right to Know Law. These are available to individuals, insurance companies, law enforcement agencies, government agencies, attorneys, and potential employees. However, members of the public do not have access to the driver history report of another person without the signature of the record owner authorizing disclosure of their personal information.
What Do New Hampshire Traffic Records Contain?
Three driver history records are available in New Hampshire: the insurance record, the non-certified driving record, and the certified driving record.
- The insurance record: The insurance record contains traffic offenses, accidents, and court convictions.
- The certified driving record: This record contains information concerning license suspensions, revocations, restorations, convictions, and accidents.
- The non-certified driving record: This record has all the certified driver history record information except the personal signature or a stamped seal indicating that the document is certified.
On the other hand, two categories of information are featured on the driver history record in New Hampshire. These are personal information and vehicle history information. The personal information includes:
- Full name and any previous names
- Address of the record holder
- Date of birth of the record holder
- The New Hampshire identification number
- Completion date for any attitude program or any safe driver course
- Insurance filing
While the vehicle history information includes:
- Demerit points
- Traffic citations/violations
- License revocation or suspension
- Accident history
- Court convictions
- Date of license restoration (if applicable)
- Ignition lock requirements (if applicable)
Does a Citation Go On Your Record in New Hampshire?
Yes, traffic citations go on driving records in New Hampshire. New Hampshire operates a point system to track and penalize offending motorists. Therefore, every traffic violation adds points to an individual's driving record. Apart from adding to the driver's driving history record, most moving violations often result in license suspension, cancellation, or revocation.
Furthermore, traffic convictions go on individual driving history records and can stay for about 3 to 10 years. Certain traffic violations, significantly speeding and other moving traffic offenses, are automatically reported to the New Hampshire Driver Services Division. Notably, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation handles the point system in the state.
Types of Traffic Citations in New Hampshire
Traffic violations are specific actions that break the established rules and regulations governing the safe usage of the road. Often, these violations result in citations. Some traffic offenses, especially the non-moving violations, are categorized as minor, and most moving violations as serious or major.
Examples of minor violations include:
- Operating an unregistered vehicle.
- Driving without a New Hampshire driver's license.
- Disobeying direct orders of a law enforcement officer.
- Operating a vehicle of an improper class.
- Tailgating.
- Driving on a sidewalk.
On the other hand, driving without a license, excessive speeding, driving when intoxicated, and leaving the scene of an accident are examples of serious or major traffic violations in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Traffic Citation Lookup
Anyone interested in their traffic citation in New Hampshire can visit the Department of Motor Vehicle website. To access their traffic citation, the requester will need identification and must supply personal information like name, date of birth, mailing address, email address, phone number, and a valid debit or credit card. Also, the interested individual can visit the local New Hampshire DMV close to them.
How to Lookup my New Hampshire Traffic Records?
Like other public records in New Hampshire, a traffic record is available to anyone who needs it. There are two major ways to access these records, in person, mail, or online.
In-Person Requests:
- Complete the New Hampshire Motor Vehicle Record Release Form (DSMV 505)
- Select "driver record" from the various headings on the form
- Select the box indicating that the person making the application is the record holder or the vehicle owner. Also, supply a full name, date of birth, license number or non-driver identification, mailing address, and telephone number.
- Append a signature and date the form accordingly
- The completed form may be submitted using the DropBox Services at the various DMV offices.
- The requester will need to make a payment of 15 dollars.
Mail Requests:
Requesters can mail the completed form and the proof of payment for $15 to:
NH Dept. of Safety,
DMV-FR Records,
23 Hazen Drive,
Concord, NH 03305.
Online Requests:
Online requestors require the following:
- New Hampshire driver's license or non-driver identification card
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Mailing address
- A valid debit or credit card
- Email address
- Phone number
The requesting party must then visit the New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicle website and follow the instructions on the website to submit a request for a driver history report/record.
Third-Party Requests: To request another party's driving record, the requesting party must complete the New Hampshire Motor Vehicles Record Release Form and submit it along with $15 to the Concord DMV office using the DropBox Services. Alternatively, the requester can mail the completed form and proof of payment for $15 to:
NH Dept. of Safety,
DMV-FR Records,
23 Hazen Drive,
Concord NH 03305.
To release the driving record to another person, the subject of the record must complete the New Hampshire Motor Vehicles Record Release Form and fill in the appropriate information of the third party receiving the record. However, the individual will have to notarize their signature on the form.
The third-party must sign the form and submit the form with the payment of $15 at the Concord DMV office using the DropBox Services or mail it to the New Hampshire Department of Safety address.
The requester must also submit a completed Record Release Form alongside a Certificate of Authority and a $15 receipt to the Concord DMV office or mail the form to the New Hampshire Department of Safety address whenever the requester is acting as an authorized agent of a company.
New Hampshire Traffic Violations
A traffic violation in New Hampshire is any act that contravenes the state's traffic laws. These can range from minor infractions, such as speeding, to more serious offenses, such as reckless driving.
Some of the most common traffic violations in New Hampshire include:
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Failing to yield to pedestrians or other vehicles
- Making an illegal turn
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Penalties for traffic violations can vary depending on the severity of the offense and whether it is a first or subsequent offense.
For example, speeding in a school zone may result in a fine of up to $1,000, while reckless driving may be punishable by up to 60 days in jail. In some cases, such as DUI offenses, their driver's license may be suspended or revoked.
New Hampshire License Plate Lookup
A New Hampshire License plate lookup can be used to determine if a vehicle has been reported stolen or involved in a crime. Hence, license plate information typically forms a critical aspect of New Hampshire traffic records. In New Hampshire, interested persons can look up license plates through the New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). To conduct a license plate lookup, requestors will require the license plate number and the state in which the vehicle is registered. Interested members of the public may also use an online service to lookup license plates.
How to View Traffic Case Records for Free in New Hampshire?
Like other court records, New Hampshire traffic case records are made accessible to the public. The courts keep civil cases filed after June 1, 2004, and criminal cases filed after January 1, 2005, in electronic format on their electronic case management system (CM/ECF).
Requestors must first obtain a PACER login and password online or by calling (800) 676-6856. After receiving login parameters from PACER, individuals can access the court's electronic case file for free at the clerk's office's public terminals.
On the other hand, individuals may view the paper case file that the court clerk kept. The clerk keeps case files for civil cases for one year after the case is closed and two years for criminal cases after the case is closed. Afterward, they transfer the paper case files to the National Archives and Records Administration-Federal Record Centre (NARA-FRC) for 15 years. Thus, requestors interested in the paper case file may check at the clerk's office.
How Long Do Traffic Offenses Remain on Public Records in New Hampshire?
The length of time a traffic offense remains on record in New Hampshire is a function of the kind and severity of the offense. Most traffic citations in New Hampshire will stay on record for three years. On the other hand, reckless driving (NH Rev Stat § 265:79-b (2015), a violation that adds six demerit points to an individual's driving record, will stay on record for five years.
Furthermore, driving under the influence (NH Rev Stat § 265-A:3 (2016), which also adds six demerit points to a driver's history report, will remain on record between five to 10 years. Apart from staying on an individual driver's history record, some traffic offenses will remain on one's criminal record for years, if not for life, once an individual is convicted unless the record is removed by annulment.
How to Remove Traffic Records from Public Websites in New Hampshire?
Traffic records are public records in New Hampshire, and the Department of Motor Vehicle maintains these records. The New Hampshire Right to Know Law ensures these records are accessible to the public, sometimes with some conditions.
Traffic records are often available on websites the different government agencies maintain and other websites the data brokerage companies maintain. The first step to removing traffic records from these websites is to petition the court for an annulment. Once a judge rules in the petitioner's favor, the annulled information is no longer available to the public.
After annulling the record, the record holder must contact the data brokerage firms to take down some information from their websites. Although the firms have policies supporting this, getting them to take down information about an individual is always tedious.
Specifically, individuals may need to employ the services of companies or attorneys that will see to the removal of sensitive individual information from these companies' websites and ensure that such information remains down.
Do Motoring Offenses Affect Criminal Records in New Hampshire
Yes. Some motoring offenses, especially those classified as serious or major traffic offenses, affect an individual criminal record in New Hampshire. Traffic offenses that impact an individual criminal record include;
- Reckless driving (driving faster than 100 miles per hour) NH Rev Stat § 265:79-b (2015)
- Driving under influence
- Leaving the scene of an accident
However, minor traffic offenses do not affect an individual's criminal record.
