Importance of Accuracy when Issuing Citations

To ensure a citation issued to a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver from Mexico or Canada is included in their driver’s license history, U.S. law enforcement must accurately record the driver’st and last name, date of birth, licensing jurisdiction and commercial driver’s license number (DLN) following the appropriate jurisdictional licensing scheme listed in this brochure.

U.S. law enforcement citations issued to drivers from Mexico or Canada that result in a conviction found in the 49 CFR Part 383.51 tables are added to the driver’s history in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Foreign Convictions and Withdrawals Database, but only if the correct license format is recorded. These convictions can result in drivers being prohibited from operating in the U.S.

U.S. law enforcement officials can determine if a Canadian or Mexican commercial driver is prohibited from operating in the U.S. by querying the license status on the FMCSA Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) website at cdlis.dot.gov or by using the “CL” destination query in the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS).