Florida reportedly sells drivers’ information for $63 million
Jul 21, 2011
The following article was posted to the Channel 10 News, wtsp.com website on July 21, 2011:
Florida reportedly sells drivers’ info fpr $63M
Florida drivers are helping the Sunshine State rake in millions and might not even know about it, a Miami television station reports.
The state made $63 million in 2010 selling drivers’ names, addresses, dates of birth and what cars they own to employers, insurance companies and such personal data collection firms as LexisNexis, WPLG-TV reports.
The electronic files don’t cost much at a penny each. But with the number of registered motorists in Florida at 15.5 million and multiple companies interested in the information, the revenues can add up, WPLG-TV reports.
The process is entirely legal, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles told the television station.
“Per federal mandate, there are companies that are entitled to this information,” the spokeswoman, Ann Howard, said.
Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers aren’t for sale, and the businesses can’t use the information to target people and try and get them to become customers, Howard said.
Find this article here: http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/202131/19/Florida-reportedly-sells-drivers-info-for-63M