DMV Records Can’t Be Used To Solicit Clients.

The Driver’s Privacy Protection Act of 1994 [DPPA; 18 U.S.C. §§ 2721-2725] regulates the disclosure of personal information contained in the DMV records of state motor vehicle departments. An exception in the DPPA, 18 U.S.C. § 2721(b)(4), permits obtaining personal information for use “in connection with” judicial and administrative proceedings, including “investigation in anticipation of litigation” from DMV records. South Carolina lawyers obtained personal contact information about drivers from the DMV records and then sent over 34,000 solicitations to join a lawsuit against car dealerships. The United States Supreme Court held that solicitation of prospective clients is not a permissible use under the exception. Maracich v. Spears (U.S. Sup. Ct.; June 17, 2013) 133 S.Ct. 2191, [186 L.Ed.2d 275].