The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles may obtain certain criminal history record information about specified applicants, holders, owners, officers, employees, and related persons, but it must keep some information confidential and destroy it after its authorized use.
Sec. 411.12511. ACCESS TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD INFORMATION: TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES. (a) The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is entitled to obtain criminal history record information as provided by Subsection (b) that relates to a person: (1) who is an applicant for or holds a general distinguishing number under Chapter 503, Transportation Code; (2) who is an applicant for or holds a license under Chapter 2301 or 2302, Occupations Code; (3) who is an owner, officer, director, member, manager, principal, partner, trustee, or trust beneficiary of an applicant, general distinguishing number holder, or license holder; or (4) who is an employee designated as an authorized representative by an applicant, general distinguishing number holder, or license holder and whose act or omission in the course or scope of the person's representation would be cause for denying, revoking, or suspending a general distinguishing number or license issued under Chapter 503, Transportation Code, or Chapter 2301 or 2302, Occupations Code. (b) Subject to Section 411.087 and consistent with the public policy of this state, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is entitled to: (1) obtain through the Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history record information maintained or indexed by that bureau that pertains to a person described by Subsection (a); and (2) obtain from the department or any other criminal justice agency in this state criminal history record information maintained by the department or that criminal justice agency that relates to a person described by Subsection (a). (c) The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles may not release or disclose to any person criminal history record information obtained from the Federal Bureau of Investigation under Subsection (b)(1). Criminal history record information obtained by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles under Subsection (b)(2) may not be released or disclosed to any person except on court order, with the written consent of the person who is the subject of the criminal history record information, or as provided by Subsection (d). (d) The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is not prohibited from disclosing criminal history record information obtained under Subsection (b)(2) in a criminal proceeding or in a hearing in which the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is a party. (e) The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles shall destroy criminal history record information that is obtained under this section after the information is used for its authorized purpose. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 871 (H.B. 4123), Sec. 50, eff. June 13, 2023. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1155 (S.B. 2587), Sec. 14, eff. September 1, 2025.