What does the Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994 prohibit without consent?

The Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) of 1994 is primarily designed to protect the personal information collected by Departments of Motor Vehicles (DMVs) and other motor vehicle authorities. Under this act, specific personal data, such as a driver's name, address, phone number, and other identifying information, is considered sensitive. The law prohibits the disclosure of this personal information without the explicit consent of the individual concerned.

This focus on protecting personal information underscores the intent of the DPPA to enhance individual privacy rights concerning the handling of their data. While the act does address the sale of vehicle information and involves financial transactions in various ways through its implications for data sharing, the crux of the legislation is about preventing the unauthorized sharing or selling of personal information without the individual's consent. This makes the protection of personal information a central tenet of the law.

In contrast, financial transactions, the sale of vehicle information, and identity verification have their own regulatory frameworks and implications but do not capture the primary intention of the DPPA, which is centered on personal privacy and consent. This legal safeguard emphasizes the importance of an individual's control over their personal data in the context of motor vehicle records.