Length of NDR

What is the name of your state? Virginia

i now live in virginia but have a dui on my national driving record. it is from 1997 from illinois. i was not convicted and have the paperwork to prove it. about a year after the not guilty, illinois put it on my ndr and suspended my license in illinois. i have contacted them and they will not remove it even after providing them with a copy of their own paperwork. they have told me what they require to have my record changed to reflect that i am eligible to get a license but it is a long and very expensive process. how long does it take before i can get a license somewhere else if i do not jump through their costly hoops. they tell me i can never get one again unless i do what they want. is this true, is this a forever thing?

[Bravo8]

There is no such thing as a National Driving Record. Each state maintains its own database, and has its own rules regarding it. Every other state does have access to it, though. So I can run your Illinois record from Pennsylvania.

Contact an attorney. If you were not convicted, it should not be on your record.

Your correct, the information is contained the "National Driving Register" not record. I used the wrong word, sorry.
Your right it should not be on my record...but it is. I have consulted with an attorney, that is how I found out about the "hoops" I need to jump through.
That was not what I asked.

[Bravo8]

Do I detect a bit of smugness?

Alright smart guy....

What the hell is a National Driving Register?

As said before, each state maintains it's own database of driving records. There is no nationally maintained driver database.

The only thing similar is the Driver's License Compact, which is an enforcement agreement between 47 separate states.

The DLC basically states that other states will notify your home state of violations and penalties, and your home state will impose sanctions as if the violation occured in your home state.

Most likely what you are encountering is a law in Virginia (am I correct in assuming Virginia will not issue you a license?) that precludes you from having a lwaful driver's license in Virginia if revoked or suspended in any other state. This is a pretty common law.

Unfortunately, Virginia doesn't really care why you are suspended in Illinois.....just that you are. Until you clear your license in Illinois, Virginia (or any other state for that matter) probably won't issue you a DL.

As for Illinois, it depends upon the reason for your suspension. In most states, a suspension for a specific offense (DUI for example) is a finite period of time. If there are certain provisions you must complied with, but have failed to do so, then it is most likely indefinitely suspended. Examples of these requirements would be mandatory alcohol counseling, payment of fines, payment of fees and costs, etc.

The fact that you were not guilty may not have any effect now on your suspension. For instance, if you are issued a citation and do not respond, your license is suspended. If you finally respond, and are found not guilty, but do not pay the costs or restoration fee to the state, you will stay suspended....even though yu were found not guilty.

In other words, the actual elemental offense is not the cause for the suspension, your actions (or failure to act) afterwards is the cause.

So smartass, "is this a forever thing?"

I answer with an emphatic "Maybe".

There is no “smugness “ involved with this. I am simply trying to get an answer to my question from a reasonable, informed source.

In a way it seems you have answered my question and I thank you.

If you would go to "www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/perform/driver/” it will explain who they are and what they do.