How to Find the Wisconsin DUI Records

In Wisconsin State, DUI offenses elicit two types of charges. The first charge is prosecuted under a criminal court case and the second is under the Department of Transportation in the state. The penalties and punishment for DUI offenses varies and depends on whether it is the individual’s first, second or third offense. The penalties include a mandatory jail term, paying fines, attending a treatment program for drug and alcohol and suspension of the offender’s driver’s license and driving privileges. For a repeat DUI conviction the penalties increase significantly with severe fines and may also result in the permanent revocation of the offender’s driver’s license and impounding of his or her motor vehicle by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Contents of a Driving Record in Wisconsin State

The driving record of an individual also known as an individual’s “motor vehicle driving abstract” provides information such as the individual’s driving history for a specific period. The driving history record contains information about any serious offenses and alcohol related arrest details and convictions which remain in the record for a duration of 5 years except under certain circumstances for which the information remains in the individual’s records for a period of 55 years.

Obtaining Information on Driver Records or Vehicle Information in Wisconsin

According to the “Federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act” that was passed by the US Congress in the year 1994 and  sanctioned  by the Supreme Court in January , 2000, access to the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles is restricted. The objective of the “Federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act” is to protect the privacy of the individual’s personal details contained in the individual’s driving record  such as the  title of the vehicle, permits, individual’s driver’s license details, identification cards and vehicle registration number issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles or the Department of Transportation ( as may be the case).

To access the information available on an individual’s driving record, one has to download the “Vehicle or Driver Record Information Request Form “(MV2896) from: http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/forms/mv2896.pdf. After downloading this form it has to be duly filled out and sent to the Department of Transportation in Wisconsin State, before any information about the vehicle or the driver record can be divulged to the requester. However, the Department of Transportation in Wisconsin State does not provide details about most of the records of the Department of the Motor Vehicles unless these are requested for certain specific reasons that are listed on the form for “Vehicle or Driver Record Information Request Form “(MV2896). It is the responsibility of the individual to find out if he or she is eligible to obtain these records. If the request form for accessing DMV records contains fraudulent information, the requester will be subjected to penalties in the form of fines, under the Federal Act.

For Information on Vehicle Records

To obtain vehicle records, the request should include an appropriate processing fee per record and sent to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. For any queries about the vehicle records and information on the license plates you can send an email to bur-veh-services.dmv@dot.state.wi.us

Since it may take the Wisconsin Department of Transportation some time to research for your inquiry and then provide a reply, you should allow at least 4 business days for a response to your email query. In addition you can also contact the Wisconsin Department of Transportation via telephone at: (608) 266 1466

For Information on Driver Records

In Wisconsin State you can request for your own driving record. Since the Department of Transportation in Wisconsin State does not have a public counter from where individuals can acquire driving records, you can request for your own driving record through mail or via telephone. To obtain your own driving records in Wisconsin via telephone you need to call at: (608) 261 2566. You can purchase your driving record over the phone by following the instructions of the automated system which can be availed anytime of the day and on all days of the week. The automated system will guide you to punch in your Social Security Number. To complete the transaction and to allow your request to be registered, it is essential that you follow the guidelines closely. It is absolutely vital that you listen till the end of the telephonic message and follow all instructions carefully to complete your request for your driving record over the telephone.

After the transaction is completed over the telephone, you will receive a bill that will inform you about the fee that is required to be paid, and also provide your driving record details within the next business day. The information will be mailed to your address that is listed with the Department of Transportation in Wisconsin.

To obtain your driving record by mail, you need to download and mail the duly filled “Vehicle or Driver Record Information Request Form along with the requisite processing fee to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 7995, Madison, WI 53707-7995. You can also call at: 608 264 7133 or visit:  http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/index.htm