Types of public records

This list outlines the various types of public records that we create and receive. The records on this list are available upon request by submitting a public disclosure request. 

Washington state law requires state agencies to have an index of their public records. The following index isn't a comprehensive list of all our records, but it provides an overview of which ones are available.

Records for public services exclusive to our agency

The following records relate to our agency's unique functions of advancing public safety and consumer protection through licensing, regulation, and education of drivers, vehicles, vessels, and professions.

Agency management

• Complaints, fraudulent applications, witness statements, photos and negatives, and supporting evidence from fraud investigations for drivers, vehicles, and vessels
• External data sharing compliance audits, results, corrective action plans, and statements of compliance
• External data sharing compliance audit notes, documentation provided to the subject, and drafts
• Abstract of driving records request
• Anonymized data sets
• Anonymized reports and analysis
• Certified copy of driver record requests
• System-generated cover letters
• Withdrawal notices
• Requests for disclosure of vehicle and vessel owner name and address
• Denied requests for disclosure of vehicle and vessel owner name and address
• Incomplete applications for business, professional, or driver license applications
• Applications, legislative reports, marketing strategy, signature sheets, plate design, legislative sponsor letters, contracts, statewide vendor code applications, plate testing documentation for the establishment of special design plates

Business and professional licensing

• Audit, investigation, and inspection reports, findings, evidence, and technical assistance letters
• Complaints and respondent information
• Case worksheets, summaries, activity reports, contact lists
• Statement of charges and charging documents
• Board member and case manager decisions
• Notices of correction
• Revocation, suspension, or denial actions
• Orders (initial, agreed, default, and final) 
• Certificates of medical insurance coverage, gross receipts and gross revenue tax, physicians' reports, weigh-in reports, event inspector reports, event reports, bout cards, pay sheets, contracts, and pre-and post-fight physicals results for combative sports events
• Forced entry reports
• Franchise dispute petitions, judicial findings, witness statements, evidence, and final orders
• Letters of education
• UCC administration financial statements and amendments
• Federal estate tax, criminal profiteering, or Department of Justice lien notices
• UCC1 transmitting utility filings
• IRS federal tax liens
• Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation filings
• IRS adjustments 
• Concealed pistol licenses 
• Firearm dealer licenses
• Pistol transfer or firearms transfer applications 
• Alien firearm licenses
• Private transfer or sales for individual pistols, revolvers, and semi-automatic assault rifles
• Notices to individuals of their persons ineligible to possess firearm status
• Court orders revoking or restoring firearm possession rights
• Data requests and reports for trace requests
• Assigned business administrators or service agent contact details, account details, and power of attorney (when applicable)
• Applications, renewals, and eligibility documentation for business and professional licenses/authorizations
• Business formation and organizational change records
• Financial instruments (bonds, insurance, trust/escrow funds)
• Temporary dealer event licenses
• Applications, renewals, and eligibility documentation for granted business and professional licenses for architects and architecture firms
• Curriculum, courses, and routes used by businesses or individuals that have been approved to provide education to licensees or prospective licensees. 
• Questions, documents, answer keys, instructions, examination validity reports, and question banks used in the professional licensing and certificate authorization process
• Professional licensee completed exam question sheets and exam media containing candidate responses
• Applications, enrollment status, waivers, scores, completed exams, evaluations, training hours, deposit verifications, course completion, and refunds and fees for the students of education providers
• Dyed diesel applications and tax returns
• Tax schedules, bond information, and transaction documentation for fuel licenses and tax returns
• Exempt fuel tax fuel refund claims, invoices, and export affidavits
• International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) License applications and supporting documentation
• IFTA license denial documentation
• IFTA tax assessments and returns
• Prorate account applications
• Prorate account mileage schedules and reports, leased vehicle listings, cab cards, license plate numbers, and proof of established place of business residency, or change of address
• Prorate and fuel tax collections demand letters, court documentation (bankruptcy, probate, proof of claim, etc.), appeals, tax liens/warrants, vehicle lien documentation, withhold and deliver notices (garnishment), and documentation of satisfaction of lien/warrant 

Identification and driver licensing

• Abstract of civil court judgments 
• Insurance company letters and coverage documentation
• Driver hearing final orders
• Hearing examiner notes
• Subpoenas, treatment provider reports, compliance notifications, recordings, provided evidence, reconsideration requests and decisions, and appeals for driver hearing
• Conviction notifications for serious traffic violations
• Letters describing driving privilege restrictions
• Driving privilege restriction court orders
• Unresolved traffic citations that result in driving privilege restrictions, suspensions, or cancellations
• Out-of-state notifications of privilege restrictions
• Documentation of accumulated traffic offenses
• Non-criminal traffic citations
• Moving, equipment, and safety violations
• Proof of bond and certificate of deposit to meet financial responsibility requirements
• SR-22/26 insurance filings
• Collision reports from Washington State Patrol involving uninsured or unverified at-fault drivers
• Disabled parking applications and required supporting documentation
• Signed authorizations for disabled parking privileges
• Replacement request for disabled parking placards
• Out-of-state driver's license requests
• Driver and commercial driver license medical waivers
• In-vehicle assessments, knowledge and skills tests, medical clarification forms, and physical/vision examination reports for medical re-examinations 
• Finalized re-examination report
• Enhanced driver license and ID applications and required supporting documentation
• Notifications from state, county, or local authorities concerning inmates being released who require an ID card or driver license
• Letter of request, court orders, and residential admission summary from individuals under the supervision of the Department of Social and Health Services who are being released and require an ID card
• Application and instructional course records for special driver license endorsements
• Special driver license endorsement testing results, testing-based documentation, and re-examination and medical documentation
• Notifications of special endorsement surrender
• Driver license and ID card applications and required supporting documentation
• Out-of-state renewal request for driver licenses and ID cards
• Parental authorizations
• Driver collision reports
• Organ donor program project documentation, statistics, and supporting documentation
• Oral driver knowledge-test exam recordings
• Written driver knowledge exams
• Written and oral exam answer sheets
• Knowledge test questions and scores

Vehicle and vessel services

• Personalized and special license plate applications
• Proof of eligibility and supporting documents for personalized and specialized license plates
• Applications and proof of eligibility for registration-based military privilege benefits
• Vehicle and vessel standard and registration applications
• Temporary license plates or registration documentation
• Gross weight documentation, exemption requests, address verification, and letters of permission/power of attorney for vehicle and vessel registration
• Vehicle and vessel temporary permit applications and proof of eligibility
• Non-expiring vehicle registration applications
• Gross weight documentation, address verification, and letters of permission/power of attorney for non-expiring vehicle registration
• Title applications and ownership documentation
• Unclaimed certificates of ownership or title
• Refusals or cancellations of certificates of ownership or title
• Contaminated vehicle notifications
• Inspection documentation
• Ownership in doubt documentation
• Self-insurance certificate applications and supporting documentation
• Financial statements and issued or denied letters for self-insurance certificates
• Abandoned recreational vehicle towing reimbursement requests
• Junk and abandoned vehicle affidavits, certificates of fact, wrecker/salvage processor reports, impound authorization forms, certificates of mailing, receipts, invoices, and appeals for towing reimbursement requests
• Abandoned vehicle or vessel requests and response letters for ownership information on impounded abandoned vehicles or vessels 
• System-generated requests to add stolen vehicle indicator
• Wrecker/scrapper reports 

Records for standard services or internal functions for all state agencies

The following records relate to standard services and internal functions of state government agencies.

Agency administration and management

This is just a small sample of the agency administration and management records that could be created or received by DOL. Read pages 5-54 of the state general retention schedule for more information on these records. 

Asset management

This is just a small sample of the asset management records that could be created or received by DOL. Read pages 55-74 of the state general retention schedule for more information on these records.

Financial management

This is just a small sample of the financial management records that could be created or received by DOL. Please see pages 75-90 of the state general retention schedule for more information on these records.

HR and payroll management

This is just a small sample of the HR and payroll management records that could be created or received by DOL. Please see pages 91-117 of the state general retention schedule for more information on these records.

Information management 

This is just a small sample of the information management records that could be created or received by DOL. Please see pages 118-126 of the state general retention schedule for more information on these records.

Transitory records

This is just a small sample of the information management records that could be created or received by DOL. This section covers records that are typically short-term and intended for temporary informational use. Please see pages 133-142 of the state general retention schedule for more information on these records.

Records available to the public without a request

The following records do not require a public records request and are available to the public at no charge. 

• Open Data Portal 
• Reports and data

Additional resources

• Washington State Archives retention schedules
  • You'll find the state general records and Department of Licensing (under L for licensing) retention schedules on this page.