Legal Theft: Florida DMV Makes Millions Legally Selling Personal Information
- Posted on July 29, 2011 at 2:14pm by
Becket Adams
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According to a recent report, the Department of Motor Vehicles in Florida has been selling names, addresses and dates of birth to companies in return for a promise that they not to harass anyone.
Among the firms that allegedly pay for information many consider confidential are Lexis Nexis and Shadow Soft.
The only people who are exempt from the sale of their personal information are judges and police officers.
What many people don’t realize is that under the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act the information gathered by is legally available to certain companies.
Ann Howard of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles said in a U.K. Mail Online article that, “Per federal mandate, there are companies that are entitled to this information.”
“Insurance companies, for example, are entitled to this information. Employers are entitled to this information.”
“This information cannot be sold to a company that plans to solicit business, such as companies that want you to come to their ice cream store or companies that want you to buy their vehicles,” she added.
According to the report, there are 15.5 million registered drivers in Florida and the state charges firms one cent per electronic file.
Motorists quizzed by local news stations were amazed when they found out that this practice was occurring in their state.
“This is my own personal information, and I don’t think it should be out there,”said John Platt in the report.
“You’re kidding me,” said Bebe Neice.
“That’s crazy. I didn’t have a clue about it,” added Mischka Peralto.
The DMV claims that selling the information is a matter of public safety because if there is a vehicle recall, the manufacturer involved will have the most current owners details.
Situations where the information is available for sale include when it is requested by any government agency, licensed private investigation agencies (in certain circumstances), insurance companies, employers, or businesses that seek to verify or correct personal information for producing statistical reports and other research.
“Per federal mandate, there are companies that are entitled to this information. Insurance companies, for example, are entitled to this information. Employers are entitled to this information,” said Ann Howard.
“If a company violates the Federal Driver Privacy Protection Act, they do face federal charges and federal fines,” she added.
If it’s any consolation to the people of Florida, Social Security numbers and license plates are not included in the sale to companies that gather data and then sell it on for various different purposes. Furthermore, companies that buy the information must sign contracts pledging not to bother people.
But that’s very little comfort indeed. The question is: how does a company that purchases this information define “bother”?
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CaptElaine
Posted on August 2, 2011 at 1:53pmDoes ACORN have access… is the info used for voter fraud in Florida? How many other states do the same? I wonder? Who decided Insurance companies get this info from the DMV, what if I don’t WANT Insurance company A to have my info, since I’m NOT their customer. Also an employer is NOT allowed to ask your age, but the DMV will give them your birthday… so they can discriminate against you for age and you don’t even realize it… this STINKS to high heaven on LOTS of levels. Illegal aliens drive without driver’s licenses… may be time for Americans to do the same.
Report Post »freedomisasfreedomdoes
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 3:40pmMakes me wonder why identity theft is so bad in US. Perhaps some individuals in these companys that buy the info sell the info etc?? who knows… but anything is possible i suppose if one‘s info is out there not in the individual’s control… ugh
Report Post »deleeuw
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 3:12pmBTW, the Social Security Administration is not prohibited from selling your personal information to 3rd parties.
Report Post »So, the office that made it possible for the government to imprison Americans of Japanese background can now sell your information, for ex. China.
sWampy
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 10:19amI have often wondered why some rich lawyer hasn’t brought a suit against the states when the state sold the driving record of their minor child illegally to insurance companies that then raise their rates.
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 2:44amMr. Oshawott
I’ll tell you why, this is how the scam works, for “your safety” the state gives you a ticket for speeding then for extra cash adds on a no seat belt ticket, but no helmet on a bike is OK?, then they sell the information about your ticket and your home address to a company like a traffic school, so the school can “help you” by “points will not be added to your license” and “your insurance rates cannot be raised”
So they are both helping you, one helps give you a ticket, the second helps keep the points off your record, oh yeah almost forgot, and both KEEP YOUR MONEY !
The American’s have pushed this scam around the world, when the Americans started this in Italy, the local people would take a white T-shirt and paint a large black line across it, to make it look like a seat belt, in Brasil just a no seat belt ticket can cost the average person a weeks pay. The points system is a cash cow for the government and if you don‘t pay your ticket then corrections gets it’s job security.
20 years when they started the seat belt law, they couldn’t pull you over for just no belt, now they can and when they do “for your safety” they check your car for anything else to ticket.
It’s all a scam.
Report Post »goggles pisano
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 11:28amlol oh man we never get a break. arkansas sells info to. check this out. i have lived in my house 8 years. i live in the country. the insurance company decides they need more revenue so they declare the area i live in a fire hazard zone because the local fire dept is a unmanned fire house 24 7. they triple my home owners insurance from 400 a year to 1200, now the county decides as always they need more revenue so they say my house went up 20,000 bucks last year. yeah i couldnt believe it either. i bought the dump on 12 acres for 50k. today its worth 148k. i have suddenly become a real estate genius. heres the scam, the county cranks up the housing prices collects more taxes sells the info to the insurance companies who in turn crank up the policy. when i bought in 2003 my house pmt? 480 a month with taxes and insurance included (escrow) today my house pmt is 675 a month. i hate these people yeah i said HATE. i hope their mothers and fathers lose their their homes and they die a miserable cold death on the street. me? oh i`m fine i make a good living and could easily a 1200 a month nut but if thats what i wanted i would have bought a fancy house on a lot. i hate thieves and god will throw them in the lake of fire.
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 12:44pmAnd in Florida they want to raise sink hole insurance by 2000% ! ! !
Yeah I wrote that right 2000% We are doomed !
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:06pmWhy must the Department of Motor Vehicles have access to private information? What purpose does a person’s private information serve inside a company involving finance? I‘m willing to bet that the DMV’s use of private information and the financial companies making them public are the reasons why identity theft is so rampant these days.
Report Post »CulperGang
Posted on July 31, 2011 at 10:48pmThe government NO LONGER protects the citizen, which is their FIRST and foremost duty. Politicians see people as “TOOLS” of implementations that benefits them.Dignity of privacy is taken by politicians like it is their right while they use the taxpayers money to sHILED themselves and their privacy via armed guards(while they take your gun)……while their private information is protected via sophisticated technology paid for by the taxpayer, IN SHORT: Taxpayers are ABUSED by politicians in every possible way and are reduced to be nothing more than SERVILE TOOLS of politicians.
BTW politicians TRIPLE their worth in two short terms. ALL AT TAXPAYERS EXPENSE.
Time to wake up we the people and demand changes that put you in charge of your life not politicians.
Report Post »This governor just put everybodies privacy at risk to identity theft. He should personally and be sued in civil court for invasion of privacy.
alcarfl
Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:53amAs a Florida driver, I entered an alternate and seldom used version of my name (shortened first name) on my license application, different than I normally state my name. Sure enough, ALL of the junk mail I receive is sent to me under the name on my licence. Thanks ex Gov. Crist for selling my name to the junk mailers. If I can find his address, I will gladly forward all of my junk mail to him. I did not offer my eMail address on the application. For those that did, I’ll bet your Spam guard is working overtime.
Report Post »DeannaRae
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 6:21amJust send it to Crist, care of Morgan and Morgan. LOL
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 6:38pmThis story reminds me of that ATF report about putting more guns of the street, “letting guns walk” to stop gun violence. How’s that working out ?
The more information the state makes public the more identity theft we will have, but don’t worry for $19 a month, some sleeze guy will protect you from the sleeze guy using your information, that he got from the sleeze guy at the DMV.
Dr. Duke 2012 !
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:40pmMarcoo will straighten them out!
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 11:16pmIdentity theft is a big problem, until it happens to someone important, like a congressman, they won’t do anything, they can’t even work on this budget problem.
Like 10 years ago Bill Gates PC got hacked, then like magic home computer security became a priority.
Report Post »Linda_Callaway_FL
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:56amWay to go Florida! Sell personal info to companies who then sell/share it further and lo and behold, identity theft increases! It’s my understanding that Florida has the HIGHEST identity theft problem in the nation. Gee, I wonder why?
Report Post »HisNameWasRobertPaulson
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 3:06pmActually, just about every state does this, per federal mandate, as stated in the article. And this information does not lead to identity theft, but rather helps to quell it.
Do you know what Lexis Nexis is? Financial companies use this data service to prevent theft and fraud, such as Identity theft.
I think we need to all just simmer down and think a minute. Maybe go back and read it again or something.
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 5:41pm“helps to quell it” ? ? ?
WOW ! was that a joke ?
The more information they, financial companies, make public the greater the risk of fraud, then after you become a victim of fraud then they try to sell you some “fraud alert” gimmick, its all a scam.
Report Post »adamic
Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:46amnot to lexis nexis!!!!!!!!!! They sell information it is their job! I called the Ohio DMV on thursday they do not sell any information. If an insurance company needs it they send it to them. They don’t sell! Florida should be ashamed of it’s self.
Report Post »redneck hickabilly
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:34amliencense is public infomation….there is no privacy to it…. sorry peeps
Report Post »christos
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 10:08am……No way should they be doing this,personal information belongs only to the individual,people should be offered a waiver to sign,or if they decide to give the information to these companies the individual should get the money for it not the D.M.V take $ or mandating out of the equation the D.M.V. would not have anything to do with it,they could care less about car recalls they are doing it for the cash.1984 ditto.
Report Post »adamic
Posted on July 31, 2011 at 11:51amagreed ! Those that say it is not are fools. I can hack you steal your identity no matter what program you use. I can steal your phone number after I have your identity I can get a knew SS card and birth certificate from the hospital you born at. About 4 million Illegal immigrants di it every year. Get your head out of your ass if I know your name and address the the rest just costs money and searching open databases.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 9:21am” Driver’s Privacy Protection Act ”
Once again a “nice sounding” government action does the OPPOSITE of what it sounds like. Enough of this cr*p.
TEA!
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 6:18pm“Driver’s Privacy Protection Act” – Joke
That‘s why Florida doesn’t allow the little people to use a P.O. Box on their Driver’s license anymore, the state wants your home address on your license, so when it’s time to renew your car registration, the state mails the renewal notice to your home and not to a secure P.O. Box, this way anyone can simple open your mail box and get information about you.
A few years ago California would mail your Driver license renewal to your home address, thanks to this identity theft was very easy, simply wait for the mail man to leave then open the street mailbox take the renewal notice to the DMV get your picture on that person‘s Driver’s license, yes people it was that easy !
I wrote “little people” cause government employee’s like judges can still use a secure P.O. Box on their Driver license, judges are exempt from the theft and fraud of their information.
Dr. Duke 2012 !
Report Post »Alfredo2131
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 8:35amA state can sell my personal information as long as the following apply:
Report Post »1. A company wishing to purchase my personal information must contact me by phone, email, etc., indicating an amount said company is willing to pay for my personal information. I must agree to this sale in writing, (or email-agreement as setup by the state), at the offered amount or any mutually agreed amount.
2. I have the right to demand that the state sell my information at a price greater, but never less, than that which said company was willing to purchase. A separate agreement made between the state and myself to sell my info at a price higher than that which was previously agreed between said company and myself, is legal and binding if agreed to by said company.
3. In any and all cases I am entitled to 75% of all monies received from the sale of my personal information. However, I also have the right to enter into an agreement with the state whereby my share is used to cover any debt I may owe the state gov’t (or a local gov’t w/in the state), to where said debt is paid in full or in a mutually agreed upon amount-which is to be considered as payment in full of said debt-this includes any past/present/future child support payments.
(Aside: I don’t have any children. Honest.)
4. Without exception I agree: The Federal Government has “first dibs” to my money which it may use to pay down any ‘federal’ debt owed by me to any federal agency.
5. If I’ve missed anything-please add it in.
Cold War Vet
Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:24pmI imagine this is just more of a thing to condition us to having no civil rights or autonomy. Like the way most people now accept TSA groping. They want all of us to just shut up and be happy while they remove our rights and privacy.
The DMV should be required to get each persons CONSENT in writing, in order to share their personal information.
List of major differences between Conservatives and lIberals:
Report Post »http://neuezeitgeist.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/conservative-versus-liberal-a-quick-contrast-study/
RiverRat269
Posted on July 29, 2011 at 11:17pmThis is so wrong on many levels. Why then are just Judges & cops excluded. Whose watching these companies with the evil eye & just who are they. Nope this reeks of evil & malice. Bad Bad Big Brother !
Report Post »CatB
Posted on July 30, 2011 at 9:18amI agree .. and as a single woman living in Florida … it makes me feel UNSAFE! This is NOT public information .. not when you include my birthdate .. this is setting people up for identity theft or worse!
TEA!
Report Post »Servant Of YHVH
Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:57pm“The DMV claims that selling the information is a matter of public safety because if there is a vehicle recall, the manufacturer involved will have the most current owners details.” If there was a safety recall then the manufacturer would already have that information since it was quite likely that the distriburships sell the cars to the people and get all that information. The manufacturer would, I’m sure, have access to that.
“The question is: how does a company that purchases this information define “bother”?”
Report Post »Actually the bigger question is, how likely are these companies to sell that same personal information to someone else without “papers being signed” and all that and are in the “selling” business?
hempstead1944
Posted on July 29, 2011 at 7:27pmGeorge Orwell’s 1984
Report Post »Brasil2520
Posted on August 1, 2011 at 2:06amVery true my friend
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