Ritchie Backs Bill to Protect Privacy at the Dmv

Launches Online Petition to Let Public Tell the

DMV Their Personal Information is “Not For Sale” 

***CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION***

Senator Patty Ritchie today announced she’s sponsoring legislation to protect the privacy of millions of New Yorkers by prohibiting the state DMV from selling personal information to the highest bidder without their consent.

And she announced that she has launched an online petition to send a message to DMV that New Yorker’s personal information shouldn’t be for sale. The petition can be found at Senator Ritchie’s website, www.ritchie.nysenate.gov.

“Each and every year, millions of Americans fall victim to identify theft, which means we all need to be increasingly concerned about privacy protection,” said Senator Ritchie.

“Armed with little more than a name and address, criminals are wreaking havoc on individuals’ personal finances, ruining credit and wrecking reputations. And while New Yorkers have grown used to safeguarding their credit cards and checkbooks, and shredding financial documents and bank statements to keep them from the prying eyes of crooks, the state DMV is selling the very same information to the highest bidder.

“State law requires us to provide the DMV with detailed personal information, but we need more control over what the agency does with it after the fact. That’s what this legislation seeks to do.”

New Yorkers have grown increasingly concerned about identity theft in the wake of growing incidents of breaches that exposed huge flaws in some major retailers’ systems that are supposed to keep consumers’ personal information safe.

Under Senate bill 5668, drivers would decide if DMV could sell their personal information. The bill would require drivers to “opt-in” to any DMV-sponsored program that sells personal information. An exception would be allowed for recalls and similar notices concerning vehicle safety.

According to a recent study, approximately 12.7 million Americans were affected by identity theft last year, costing victims a total of $16 billion.