Driver License Agreement

Driver License Agreement (DLA) is an interstate compact between the United States and Canada that facilitates the exchange of information between motor vehicle agencies. The agreement is designed to promote highway safety and driver responsibility by ensuring that a person has only one driver license and one driving record.

History

The Driver License Agreement was developed by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) and was first introduced in 1990. It was designed to replace the existing Driver License Compact and Non-Resident Violator Compact, which were seen as outdated and ineffective.

Provisions

The DLA contains several key provisions designed to improve highway safety and driver responsibility. These include:

• A requirement that all member jurisdictions recognize the driver licenses issued by other member jurisdictions.
• A requirement that member jurisdictions report traffic convictions and suspensions to the home jurisdiction of the driver.
• A requirement that member jurisdictions take action on their own drivers based on the information received from other jurisdictions.

Membership

As of 2021, the DLA has been adopted by several states in the United States and provinces in Canada. However, not all jurisdictions have adopted the agreement, and some have chosen to remain part of the older compacts.

Criticisms

Despite its intended benefits, the DLA has been criticized for a number of reasons. Some critics argue that it infringes on the rights of drivers, while others believe that it does not go far enough in promoting highway safety.

See also

• Driver License Compact
• Non-Resident Violator Compact
• American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators