You check your driving record and find a conviction you do not recognize. Or you recognize the ticket, but the violation listed does not match what happened in court.
Before paying a fee, disputing the entry, or assuming your license is suspended, gather the documents that show exactly where the records disagree.
Georgia courts report traffic convictions to the Department of Driver Services, commonly called DDS. DDS then places the conviction information on the driver’s record and applies additional penalties when applicable. Because the information passes from the court to DDS, identifying the source of a suspected mistake is an important first step.
The key distinction is between correcting an inaccurate record and trying to change an actual court judgment. Those are not the same request, and they may involve different procedures and deadlines.
Start With Your Official Georgia Driving Record
Do not rely solely on an insurance notice, employer screening report, or a recollection of your court appearance. Obtain your own Georgia Motor Vehicle Report, or MVR, so you can identify the entry you want reviewed.
DDS offers three-year, seven-year, and lifetime driving histories, although the available options depend on how you request the report. Its MVR instructions explain how to obtain records online, in person, or by mail, including certified copies.
Choose a report that covers the date of the disputed event. When reviewing it, note whatever identifying information appears for the entry, such as:
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The violation description or code.
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The offense and conviction dates.
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The reporting court.
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Any associated points.
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Any related suspension information.
Keep a complete copy rather than saving only a cropped image of the disputed line. Your attorney may need to compare that entry with other events on the record.
Gather These Documents Before Requesting a Correction
A useful review packet connects three things: the original charge, the court’s actual disposition, and what DDS currently reports.
1. The Original Citation
Find the ticket or obtain a copy from the court handling the case.
The citation helps identify the original allegation and distinguish it from other tickets. Make note of the citation number, issuing agency, court, alleged offense, and incident date.
Remember that the original charge is not necessarily the final outcome. For example, a citation may identify one offense while the court’s disposition reflects another. The comparison needs to include both.
2. The Final Court Disposition
Ask the clerk for the official record showing how the case ended. Depending on the case, useful documents may include:
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The final disposition.
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The judgment or sentencing order.
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An order reflecting an amended charge.
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A dismissal order.
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Relevant docket entries.
Ask whether a certified copy is available or needed for your intended use.
This paperwork is central to the review. DDS’s court guidance distinguishes an inaccurate record of the original judgment from a later effort to change that judgment. The documents should establish what the court actually decided—not merely what you expected the outcome to be.
3. Payment Receipts and Court Correspondence
Gather receipts, payment confirmations, emails, mailed notices, and any written instructions from the clerk.
These materials can help establish a timeline, but do not assume that a payment receipt alone proves the final disposition or confirms that every issue on your driving record has been resolved.
Keep each item with its date and case number. If a receipt relates to a different citation, label it separately.
4. DDS Notices and Current License-Status Information
Save any DDS notice concerning a suspension, points, or another licensing action. Also check your current status through DDS Online Services.
DDS directs drivers to its online system to review convictions, license status, suspensions, points, and reinstatement requirements. It also advises allowing time for court updates.
A disputed conviction and your present driving privileges are related questions, but they are not interchangeable. Your preparation packet should show both the entry you challenge and the status DDS currently reports.
5. Identification and Evidence of a Possible Mismatch
If you believe the violation belongs to someone else, gather identification and note the specific discrepancy.
Examples might include:
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A name or birth date that does not match yours.
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A driver’s license number that differs from your number.
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A citation involving a vehicle you do not recognize.
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An incident you believe involved misuse of your identity.
Explain what is wrong without assuming the cause. A mismatch may require a different investigation from a correctly identified case with an incorrectly reported outcome.
6. A One-Page Timeline
Create a short chronology with dates for:
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The traffic stop or citation.
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Court appearances.
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The final disposition.
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Payments or completed requirements.
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DDS notices.
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Your discovery of the disputed entry.
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Contacts with the court or DDS.
Keep the timeline factual. Separate “the court order states” from “I remember being told.” That distinction helps counsel identify which points are documented and which need further investigation.
Is This a Record Error—or a Request to Change the Case Outcome?
This is the most important question to resolve.
Suppose the court’s original judgment identifies one offense, but the driving record shows something different. That may present an accuracy or reporting issue.
By contrast, suppose the record correctly reflects the court’s judgment, but you now want that judgment changed. That is not simply a matter of correcting a typographical mistake.
DDS’s published court guidance treats these situations differently. It describes court-submitted correction procedures and explains that requests to modify an actual judgment can raise statutory timing and jurisdiction questions. It separately recognizes corrections necessary to make a record accurately reflect the original judgment.
Do not label the problem a “clerical error” merely because that sounds easier to fix. Have counsel compare the source documents and determine what kind of request is appropriate.
Should You Contact DDS or the Court First?
Start by identifying where the disagreement appears.
If your court paperwork and driving record show different outcomes, contact the reporting court to ask how the disposition was recorded and transmitted. You may also need DDS to explain the entry it received.
DDS’s court reference guidance describes corrections submitted by the court, including use of a court correction form or qualifying correspondence. Gathering your own supporting documents is valuable, but it does not necessarily replace the court’s role in correcting court-reported information.
Useful questions include:
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What final offense and disposition appear in the court file?
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What information was sent to DDS?
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Has the court already submitted a correction?
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When was it submitted?
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What further documentation or action is required?
Keep a contact log with names, dates, reference numbers, and the next step each office identifies. Do not assume that one phone conversation means the record has been corrected.
What If the Disputed Entry Is Connected to a Suspension?
Treat your current license status as a separate issue that needs prompt confirmation.
DDS provides access to suspension information and reinstatement requirements through Online Services. Filing a dispute or asking the court to review an entry should not be treated as confirmation that you may drive. Verify your current privileges and obtain advice about any restrictions.dds.georgia
An Atlanta attorney handling suspended-license matters can review the disputed entry alongside your licensing status and any pending court case.