SACRAMENTO -Senator Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) introduced a measure to protect driver's information collected by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
In 2018, California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) that created rights for consumers, protecting them from unscrupulous businesses collecting and sharing their private data.
Despite these new regulations, a recent media investigation showed that the DMV generates over $50 million annually selling data that drivers are required to provide in order to receive a license or register a vehicle.
SB 1121 will prohibit the Department of Motor Vehicles from selling or allowing access to driver's license or vehicle registration information, which exposes Californians to infringement of their private information.
For Californians to obtain a driver's license or register a vehicle, they must provide the DMV with private and personal information, especially since the introduction of California's new Real ID, which requires additional personal documents to verify someone's identity. The information is provided to the Department on the assumption that it will remain confidential.
"It is a legitimate fear that someone may steal your identity, hack your accounts, stalk you, or just make your life miserable," said Senator Brian Dahle. "The government that you entrust with your personal information should not add to that fear and then profit from it."
As a government agency utilized by nearly all Californians, the Department of Motor Vehicles should not be able to sell this personal information to anyone outside of law enforcement for any reason. This breach of data is now a concern for everyone who uses the DMV, but especially for victims of robocalls, scams, stalking, harassment and assault.
Senator Brian Dahle represents California's 1st Senate District, which contains all or portions of 11 counties, including Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Sierra, Siskiyou, and Shasta.
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