Thursday, July 06, 2000
Ohio limits sale of driver data
Marketers can no longer buy lists of names
By Andrew Welsh-Huggins
The Associated Press
COLUMBUS — A new law protecting Ohioans' privacy should reduce bulk mailings by preventing the state from selling drivers' license information to marketers.
The law brings Ohio into compliance with federal privacy laws meant to restrict the distribution of information collected by motor vehicle bureaus.
The law means that “when we go in and give information to the government for one purpose, at least they have the respect to maintain that information in confidence,” said James Moyer of the Buckeye Privacy Coalition. The group lobbies for restrictions on the government collection of personal information.
Formerly, people who didn't want their personal information sold by the state had to sign a form.
Now, the state assumes no one wants his information sold and requires people to “opt in” before the information is released by signing a form.
Since the law took effect last month, “There's only a handful of people who have opted in,” said Susan Watiker, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
The state earned about $12 million annually from the sale of driver's license information.
Of that, about $3 million came from marketing companies. The rest came from three research firms who use the information only for compiling reports. An exception in the law allows the state to continue selling information to such companies.
What's no longer up for sale is a person's name, address, age, hair color, height, weight and gender, Ms. Watiker said.
The law, originally sponsored by Rep. Patricia Clancy, a Colerain Township Republican, does not affect a continuing ban on releasing a driver's photograph, Social Security number, telephone number and medical or disability information.
Exceptions allow police departments to retrieve information used in accident investigations.
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