| (a) All courts having jurisdiction over violations of the traffic laws of Texas are required by statute to report such convictions to the department. (b) The department is required by law to maintain records on licensed drivers, including convictions for traffic law violation charges and incidents of crash involvement. Prior to licensing or relicensing an individual, an examination is to be made of the records and applicants with a history of convictions for traffic violations and incidents of crash involvement and can be denied a license as being inimical to public safety. (c) The department shall not be required to maintain such records when, in the opinion of the director, they are no longer necessary for the purpose of suspension, revocation, cancellation, disqualification, or denial of a driver license. (1) Records of original application, examination and reports of convictions resulting in automatic suspension are kept on microfilm electronic image, or any other technology which may be approved by the Director. History records containing conviction, crash and administrative information on the licensee are kept in computer form. (2) The department interprets its responsibility for record keeping to identify those drivers experiencing difficulty in the operation of a motor vehicle involving the safety and welfare of others and considers these factors in withholding or withdrawing an individual's driving privileges as provided by statute. (3) Violations creating a hazard to other persons or property are maintained. (4) Convictions resulting in automatic suspension of license are kept indefinitely. Those convictions not resulting in automatic suspension of license and incidents of accident involvement are removed from the record by administrative authority granted by statute. |
