Barlow v. Commissioner of Public Safety

SIMONETT, Justice.

This appeal raises the question whether a court has the authority, either by statute or under its inherent powers, to expunge from the records of the Commissioner of Public Safety the revocation of respondent’s driver’s license which was later rescinded. We conclude the authority to expunge is lacking, and we reverse.

About 11 p.m. on March 4, 1983, a police officer noticed respondent Steven Barlow, age 17, standing by his pickup truck which had been driven onto a property owner’s lawn. According to the officer, Steven smelled of alcohol and his appearance, speech and ability…