ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 66

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED MARCH 18, 1996

 

 

By Assemblyman LANCE

 

 

An Assembly Resolution urging the Department of Transportation to establish safeguards for protecting the privacy of personal information in the files of the Division of Motor Vehicles.

 

Whereas, The Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in the Department of Transportation is considering the sale of certain personal information in its driver's license and motor vehicle registration files to direct mail marketers and other commercial interests; and

Whereas, The inclusion of a new revenue item of $11 million in the Governor's FY 1997 recommended budget for the sale of the DMV data base indicates that DMV has been given a "green light" to proceed with the sale of this information; and

Whereas, Individuals who provide their names, addresses, dates of birth, social security numbers and other personal information to a governmental agency have every right to expect that this information will be used by the agency solely for official purposes unless they specifically authorize some other use of their personal information; and

Whereas, The sale of personal information to direct mail and telephone marketers can only serve to increase the existing torrent of unsolicited "junk mail" and telephone marketing calls that many persons find excessive and repugnant; now, therefore,

 

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. The General Assembly of the State of New Jersey calls upon the Commissioner of Transportation to direct DMV to protect the privacy of the State's motorists by establishing a procedure to provide for affirmative authorization by an individual before any personal information in his driver's license or vehicle registration file is sold or otherwise released to a third party. An exception may be made for information provided to governmental agencies for use in fulfilling legitimate governmental and law enforcement purposes and for information on vehicular accidents, driving violations and driver status.


    2. A duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be forwarded to the Commissioner of Transportation.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This Assembly resolution calls upon the Commissioner of Transportation to protect the privacy of the State's motorists by directing the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to establish a procedure for requiring a motorist's affirmative authorization prior to the release of any personal information from his driver's license or motor vehicle registration files. This resolution responds to reports that DMV is planning to sell the information in its driver's license and vehicle registration data base to direct mail and telephone marketers and the inclusion of an $11 million revenue from this sale in the recommended FY 1997 budget.

 

 

                             

 

Urges Commissioner of Transportation to protect privacy of DMV driver information.