ALBAY – A new data sharing initiative will give law enforcement agencies greater and instantaneous access to information housed by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) through a secure internet portal. This information includes photos of all New York State drivers and non-drivers, vehicle registrations, drivers’ lifetime driving histories, as well as real-time notifications of traffic violations and other changes to a driver’s record.

“This initiative adds another tool for law enforcement, making it easier for them to identify, find and arrest suspects,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “Providing better access to DMV information is part of an ongoing effort to make state government more productive, effective and streamlined.”

The initiative will provide law enforcement with expanded and faster access to:

• LAWMAN – A searchable database of all New York State vehicle registration information
• DMV Photo – License and ID photos of all New York State drivers and non-drivers
• Driver’s Abstracts – Full history of each New York State driver, including all driving related violations and criminal convictions
• License Event Notification System (LENS) – A real-time traffic ticket and other violation notification system