DMV Record Privacy Violations

Santa Clara, CA: Complaints have been made that personal information is obtained by companies from motor vehicle records for the purposes of selling and marketing that information. This is allegedly done without customers’ consent or knowledge, in violation of federal laws, specifically, the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA).

A lawsuit was recently filed against one such company, Cross-Sell LLC , alleging it acquired motor vehicle records including the plaintiffs’ name, address, VIN number, vehicle make, model, and license plate number, so it could sell that information on to defendant North America Vehicle Insurance Specialists (NAVISS). The defendant, having obtained the plaintiff’s information then sent a solicitation letter to him directly.

The DPPA was made law in order to restrict the disclosure of personal information in such records without the consent of the individual to whom the information pertains. Despite this, some businesses are able to buy DMV records data in bulk, which they then re-sell, numerous times, with very little oversight.

Vehicle owners are required to provide the states in which they reside with their personal and sensitive information for purposes required by law so that they may operate their vehicles within their states. This legal obligation, however, does not allow for the release of that personal information to any individual or corporation such as the defendants in the lawsuit.

The DMV records cited in the lawsuit were allegedly obtained for impermissible DPPA purposes, without notice or express consent. This unauthorized access to DMV records creates a “reasonable fear of present and future injury” the plaintiffs argue, forcing them to take measures to protect their privileged information from risk of access and probable harm.

In another, similar lawsuit filed in another state, the plaintiff alleged that motor vehicle information sold to direct marketers not only violated privacy laws, but it also put a woman in danger who was trying to escape a domestic violence situation.

Further, people who have had their information unknowingly obtained by such companies as Cross Sell, will continue to have their privacy violated by direct marketers they have no relationship with, and without their knowledge or consent.

Privacy Violations from Sold DMV Information Legal Help

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Last updated on Dec-30-16