By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-983221.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – The Florida ACLU is running an ad campaign urging Governor Rick Scott to stop to the state sale of personal information. The Department of Motor Vehicles has been selling driver information to outside vendors for the last decade. But as Lynn Hatter reports, the ACLU is stepping up its efforts to put a stop to that.
The Florida ACLU says the state is making 60-to-70 million dollars a year from selling driver information. The records sold contain names, addresses, and dates of birth, but no social-security numbers. Florida ACLU spokesman Derek Newton says it's an invasion of privacy.
"What made the issue resurface was another legal challenge to the selling of this information was rejected in Florida. So if the courts are unable or unwilling to step in to protect personal privacy we're asking the governor to do so."
The governor's spokesman Lane Wright says its' not a call the governor can make. The practice is legal under federal law and Wright says the state has a choice: give the information away for free or at least charge a price for it.