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Office of the Legislative Auditor - Financial Audit Division

Office of the Legislative Auditor - Financial Audit Division

Report Summary

Department of Public Safety – Driver and Vehicle Data Sales

Performance Audit

Financial Audit Division September 2025

Conclusion

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) generally complied with most of the requirements we tested. However, we identified some instances of noncompliance related to legislatively required audit reporting, driver’s license indicators, interest charges on overdue payments, and one subscriber contract.

Findings and Recommendations

Finding 1

    The Department of Public Safety has neither obtained the required audit of the driver and vehicle services information system on a biennial basis nor submitted the audit report, as required by statute. (p. 19)

    Recommendation

    The Department of Public Safety should obtain the biennial audit and submit its audit reports, as required by state statute.

Finding 2
Prior Audit Finding Partially Resolved

    The Department of Public Safety did not include language in one of its data subscriber contracts requiring an annual independent third-party audit. (p. 20)

    Recommendation

    The Department of Public Safety should ensure that each of its subscriber contracts includes the statutory language requiring a third-party annual audit.

Finding 3

    The Department of Public Safety charged interest on past-due invoices without providing the notice required by statute and applied an incorrect interest rate. (p. 21)

    Recommendations

  • The Department of Public Safety should modify its MNDRIVE invoices to include a statement that interest will be charged on past-due balances.
  • The Department of Public Safety should annually update the interest rate used in the MNDRIVE system to the interest rate as established by the Department of Revenue.
  • The Department of Public Safety should consider correcting customer accounts for past interest over and underpayments.

Finding 4

    The Department of Public Safety included Department of Natural Resources firearm indicators in driving records accessible online by federal entities through e-Services for Business, in violation of state statute. (p. 22)

    Recommendation

    The Department of Public Safety should ensure that no federal entities have access to Department of Natural Resources firearm indicators contained in driving records.

More Information

Full Report (PDF) PDF Icon
Office of the Legislative Auditor, Room 140, 658 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55155 : legislative.auditor@state.mn.us or 651‑296‑4708