SECTION 217.122. Definitions

(a) Words and terms defined in Transportation Code Chapter 730 have the same meaning when used in this subchapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(b) The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) Department--Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

(2) Requestor--A person, this state, or an agency of this state seeking personal information contained in motor vehicle records directly from the department.

(3) Service agreement--A contractual agreement with the department that allows a requestor electronic motor vehicle records.

(4) Written request--A request submitted in writing, including by mail, electronic mail, electronic media, and facsimile transmission.

(5) Signature--Includes an electronic signature, as defined by Transportation Code §501.172, to the extent the department accepts such electronic signature.

(6) Batch Inquiry--Access, under a service agreement, to department motor vehicle records associated with Texas license plate numbers or vehicle identification numbers, where requests are submitted electronically to the department in a prescribed batch format. The department makes a disclosure for each record in a batch.

(7) MVInet Access--Electronic access, under a service agreement, to the department's motor vehicle registration and title database, with the ability to query records by a Texas license plate number, vehicle identification number, placard number, or current or previous document number. The department makes a disclosure each time a query of the system is made.

(8) Bulk--A disclosure by the department under Transportation Code §730.007 of at least 250 motor vehicle records containing personal information, including any of the files defined by subsection (b)(10) - (13) of this section.

(9) Bulk contract--A contractual agreement with the department for the disclosure of motor vehicle records in bulk to the requestor.

(10) Master File--A bulk file containing all the department's active and inactive registration and title records.

(11) Weekly Updates--A bulk file containing the department's new and renewed vehicle registration and title records from the previous week.

(12) Specialty Plates File--A bulk file containing Texas specialty license plate records.

(13) eTAG File--A bulk file containing records related to new or updated eTAGs, vehicle transfer notifications, and plate-to-owner records.

(14) Dealer/Supplemental File--A pair of files, one containing records of registration and title transactions processed by dealers with the department during the previous week and another containing the dealers' information, that are only available as a supplement to a bulk contract that includes the Weekly Updates.

Source Note: The provisions of this §217.122 adopted to be effective March 12, 2015, 40 TexReg 1096; amended to be effective August 2, 2018, 43 TexReg 4765; amended to be effective November 2, 2022, 47 TexReg 7288