By Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to eliminate some of the more time-intensive requests at the DMV and reduce wait times, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is making Illinois one of the first states in America to buy a copy of driving records.
“On average, more than 18,000 driving records are purchased monthly at Driver Services facilities statewide,” White said. “This new program now allows Illinois license holders the opportunity to purchase their own driving record from the convenience of their homes.”
Other states offer access to a residents’ driving records online, but Secretary of State spokesman Henry Haupt said Illinois is one of the few that allows residents to get an official copy they can share with potential employers, which is one of the main reasons for obtaining the records.
“If you’re trying to obtain a job with a trucking company, the trucking company will likely require you to provide a copy of your driving record,” he said.
The end result will be shorter lines and wait times for others at the state’s motor vehicle facilities.
“They can avoid having to go to the facility and can conduct the transaction from the convenience of their home,” Haupt said.
In the age of data breaches, Haupt said the Secretary of State’s Office tailored the process to ensure the person requesting the record is indeed who they claim to be. There are penalties for anyone who may want to access the information without the driver’s consent.
The program is available at cyberdriveillinois.com via the “Online Services” section under the “Driving Record Abstract” category. Copies will cost $13 to buy online and will be securely emailed in .pdf format.
Illinois Radio Network can be reached at [email protected].
