BRB's Public Records Blog

Comprehensive Source Books for Driver History Records & Motor Vehicle Records

Where would you go to investigate the driving restrictions and access procedures for all 50 states?  What if you needed to decode a violation on an out-of-state MVR?  There is a resource that will answer those questions and more…The MVR Book and The MVR Decoder Digest from BRB Publications.  Available in print February, 2009 and now on the Internet.

The 2009 MVR Book and The 2009 MVR Decoder Digest are the only comprehensive sourcebooks for driver history records and motor vehicle records.  Now in their 20th edition, these resource tools provide the answers you need in practical terms.  The MVR Decoder Digest translates the codes and abbreviations of violations and licensing categories that appear on motor vehicle records in all states.  The MVR Book is the national reference that details privacy restrictions, access procedures, regulations and systems of all state held driver and vehicle records.

Professionals can access the same information online.    MVR-Web has the entire content from both books in a PDF format posted at www.mvrdecoder.com.  The annual subscription is only $49 per year.  A single password allows two simultaneous users.  MVR-Web is updated periodically throughout the year as changes occur.

Dispelling the Myths of Searching Public Records Online

There is no Free Lunch!

Tempe, Arizona – September 17, 2008 –The scope of information that exists online about people and businesses is staggering. If one needs to search for a public record or to do a background check, one merely has to Google and the problem is solved, right? Not so fast, according to authors Cynthia Hetherington and Michael Sankey. Their new book – The Manual to Public Records Online – reveals how public records and public record searching websites are not created equal, and teaches how to professionally use government and vendor online resources.

According to the authors, “There are four important truths about searching public records online from government agencies—
1. Less than 50% of the available public records from the government can be found online.
2. Government sites can be free or fee-based. Generally, the fee-based sites are more robust. 
3. Most free government public record websites contain no personal identifiers beyond the name.
4. Usually the searchable and viewable information found online is limited to name indexes and summary data rather than document images. Most access sites – especially the free access sites – permit the former, not the latter.”

The authors also present public record searching guidelines when using sites maintained by private entities. The public is often fooled by websites that tout misconceptions or unrealistic features. The Manual gives an information edge on how to evaluate sites and also on the best sites to use based on topic or record category.  The 600 pages of insight and evaluation place the reader on the right path to become an expert.

 Cynthia Hetherington, a licensed private investigator and President of the Hetherington Group, is a nationally known speaker and she is author of Business Background Investigations.  Michael Sankey is the founder and CEO of BRB Publications, Inc. and he is author or editor of more than 60 publications including The Sourcebook to Public Record Information and The Public Record Research TIPS Book.

The table of contents can be found at www.brbpub.com/books/toc/

New Book Reveals How Employers Can Protect Their Businesses

A 25-Point Action Plan that Audits Hiring Practices...For Businesses of All Sizes

Tempe, Arizona – August 25, 2008 - Facts on Demand Press announces the publication of The Safe Hiring Audit by Lester S. Rosen, Esq., with Michael Sankey.  Hiring new workers is a complicated task. This new book teaches business owners and hiring managers how to perform an effective evaluation of their current hiring practices, identifies necessary changes, and instruct how to implement needed changes.

Laws associated with hiring have sought to achieve a balance between protecting privacy and due diligence. Using the Audit’s action plan of best practices assists a company’s compliance with key federal and state hiring laws, thus helping keep the company out of court and the workplace safe. According to Rosen, “All companies must periodically audit their employment practices to insure due diligence and compliance with discrimination and privacy laws, and determine whether an organization is using the current best policies, practices and procedures.” Rosen added that an effective audit can help establish legally defensible practices for dealing with potentially problematic applicants.

Author Lester S. Rosen is an attorney-at-law and founder of Employment Screening Resources (www.ESRcheck.com), a national pre-employment background screening firm. He also is the author of The Safe Hiring Manual, the first definitive book on background checks and safe hiring, and The Safe Hiring Course, the only online educational course available in the U.S. specifically for the background screening industry.  Michael Sankey is the founder and CEO of BRB Publications, Inc. (www.brbpub.com), and is author or editor of over 40 publications including Public Records Online, The MVR Book, The Sourcebook to Public Record Information, and The Public Record Research TIPS Book.

More information on The Safe Hiring Audit.

Audit Your Pre-employment Screening Practices

The Safe Hiring Audit, a book available June 23rd, provides a blueprint to evaluate and improve a company's hiring procedures. Companies of all sizes can identify potential problems and insure compliant hiring practices. This essential guide provides a step-by-step action plan to evaluate current hiring practices and help businesses avoid potential problems.

• Assess all company procedures in the hiring process
• Establish legally defensible practices for dealing with potentially problematic applicants
• Developed for both the small business owners and managers of large corporations

The Safe Hiring Audit is a practical resource for business owners, HR professionals, hiring managers, and security professionals – anyone with hiring responsibilities.   It is written by Les Rosen and Michael Sankey and published by Facts On Demand Press an imprint of BRB Publications, Inc.

Click Here for more information.

Improve Your Public Record Searching

Facts on Demand Press is announcing the release of a new title, The Public Record Research Tips Book. The book provides “Insider Information” for searching for public records at thousands of government public record agencies and web pages. This resource provides the tips and practical knowledge to guide you to the right source and help you become an ultra-efficient searcher.  The book includes:

Field Guide to Court Record Databases

How to Evaluate Public Record Vendors and Spot "Red Flag" Record Search Sites

Why and When All Criminal Records are Not Created Equal

Identify Federal Watch Lists, Sanction Lists, and Enforcement Actions

Learn About  the Location Anomalies that Affect Searching for Liens and Assets

In-Depth Searching Tips From Nine Industry Experts

The book also includes :

Hundreds of Little-Known Websites Not on the Radar

A Comprehensive Glossary of Terms

Facts on Demand Press is an Imprint of BRB Publications, Inc.  For more information on this title and other public record resources visit the BRB Publication's Bookstore.

New Sourcebook to Public Record Information Available

The 9th edition of The Sourcebook to Public Record Information is now available from BRB Publications.  "The Sourcebook" provides the competitive edge for successful background investigations and public record searching.  This extensive resource profiles over 20,000 government agencies including county courts, county recorders offices, state record depositories, state occupational licensing boards and federal courts and agencies.  More than a contact directory, The Sourcebook details, access requirements/restrictions, online availability, all fees, office hours, and more. Please click here for more information.

New Title, Business Background Investigations, to be Released in October

Business Background Investigations, by Cynthia Hetherington, provides the blueprint to perform proper due diligence and competitive discovery intelligence when examining the backgrounds of businesses and the principals who run them.  This book is applicable to all professionals who are involved in investigations, including insurance and risk managers, attorneys, and security practitioners.

The title is published by Facts On Demand Press, an imprint of BRB Publications.  Click here for more information.