Sec 28-455. Release of personal information; fees

A. In accordance with section 28-458 and the driver's privacy protection act of 1994 (18 United States Code sections 2721 through 2725) and notwithstanding section 28-447, the department shall not knowingly disclose or otherwise make available to any person:

1. Personal information obtained by the department in connection with a motor vehicle record except as otherwise provided in this section.

2. Highly restricted personal information obtained by the department in connection with a motor vehicle record without the express consent of the person to whom the information applies except for uses allowed in subsection C, paragraphs 1, 4, 6 and 9 of this section. This paragraph does not affect the use of organ donation information on an individual's driver license or affect the administration of organ donation in this state.

B. The department shall disclose personal information for use in connection with the following matters:

1. Motor vehicle or driver safety and theft.

2. Motor vehicle emissions.

3. Motor vehicle product alterations, recalls or advisories.

4. Performance monitoring of motor vehicles and dealers by motor vehicle manufacturers.

5. Removal of nonowner records from the original owner records of motor vehicle manufacturers to carry out the purposes of titles I and IV of the anti car theft act of 1992 (18 United States Code sections 2311 through 2322), the automobile information disclosure act (15 United States Code sections 1231, 1232 and 1233), the clean air act of 1963 (42 United States Code sections 7401 through 7671q) and 49 United States Code chapters 301, 305 and 321 through 331.

C. Subject to subsection A of this section, the department may disclose personal information as follows:

1. For use by any government agency, including any court or law enforcement agency, in carrying out its functions or any private person or entity acting on behalf of a government agency in carrying out its functions.

2. For use in connection with matters of:

(a) Performance monitoring of motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts and dealers.

(b) Motor vehicle market research activities, including survey research.

(c) Removal of nonowner records from the original owner records of motor vehicle manufacturers.

3. For use in the normal course of business by a legitimate business or its agents, employees or contractors, but only:

(a) To verify the accuracy of personal information submitted by the individual to the business or its agents, employees or contractors.

(b) If the information submitted is not correct or is no longer correct, to obtain the correct information for the purpose of preventing fraud by, pursuing legal remedies against or recovering on a debt or security interest against the individual.

4. For use by an attorney licensed to practice law or by a licensed private investigator in connection with any civil, criminal, administrative or arbitration proceeding in any court or government agency or before any self-regulatory body, including the service of process, investigation in anticipation of litigation and the execution or enforcement of judgments and orders, or pursuant to a court order.

5. For use in research activities and for use in producing statistical reports if the personal information is not published, redisclosed or used to contact individuals.

6. For use by any insurer that writes automobile liability or motor vehicle liability policies and that is under the jurisdiction of the department of insurance or insurance support organization or by a self-insured entity or its agents, employees or contractors in connection with claims investigation activities, antifraud activities, rating or underwriting.

7. For use in providing notice to the owners of towed or impounded vehicles.

8. For use by any licensed private investigative agency or licensed security service for any purpose allowed under this section.

9. For use by an employer or its agent or insurer to obtain or verify information relating to a holder of a commercial driver license that is required under 49 United States Code sections 31301 through 31317.

10. For use by a toll operator as defined in section 28-7751 in connection with the operation of a toll facility or the enforcement of tolls, administrative charges and penalties as defined in section 28-7751.

11. For any other use in response to requests for individual motor vehicle records if the state has obtained the express consent of the person to whom the personal information pertains.

12. For bulk distribution for surveys, marketing or solicitations if the department has obtained the express consent of the person to whom the personal information pertains.

13. For use by any requester if the requester demonstrates it has obtained the written consent of the individual to whom the information pertains.

14. For any other use that is specifically authorized by law and that is related to the operation of a motor vehicle or public safety, including the following:

(a) Use by a financial institution or enterprise under the jurisdiction of the department of financial institutions or a federal monetary authority.

(b) Use by a motor vehicle dealer who is licensed and bonded by the department or a state organization of licensed and bonded motor vehicle dealers.

(c) Use by a person who is involved in an accident or the owner of a vehicle involved in an accident if the person who requests the information submits proof to the department of involvement in the accident.

(d) Use by a person applying for a bonded title if all of the following conditions exist:

(i) The requester verifies to the satisfaction of the director that the vehicle on which the requester is requesting the record is in the requester's possession.

(ii) The record is requested in order for the requester to notify the registered owner of the requester's intent to apply to the department for a bonded title.

(iii) The requester provides a verification of a vehicle inspection that was performed by an authorized department employee or agent.

(e) Use by an operator of a self-service storage facility who alleges both of the following:

(i) That the vehicle on which the operator is requesting the record is in the operator's possession.

(ii) That the record is requested to allow the operator to notify the registered owner and any lienholders of record of the operator's intent to foreclose its lien and to sell the vehicle.

(f) For any other use as determined by the director and established by rule.

D. The department may establish and carry out procedures under which the department, on receiving a request for personal information that does not fall within one of the exceptions prescribed in subsection B or C of this section, may mail a copy of the request to the individual about whom the information was requested. The mailing shall inform the individual of the request and contain a statement that the information will not be released unless the individual waives the individual's right to privacy under this section.

E. In addition to the permissible uses prescribed in subsection C of this section, the department may disclose its motor vehicle records information, including personal information, as a bulk record only under any of the following conditions:

1. If the director determines either of the following:

(a) The sale or release of the record is necessary for the public health or safety.

(b) The use is for general research or general statistical purposes that do not provide specific factors from a record.

2. For surveys, marketing or solicitations if the department has obtained the express consent of the person to whom the personal information pertains.

3. For the release of motor vehicle title and motor vehicle registration information, vehicle identification numbers, title brands, odometer readings and brands and title lien information to a requester if the requester is in the business of preparing vehicle history reports and the information is used to develop a vehicle history report.

F. The director shall provide in a clear and conspicuous manner on forms for the issuance or renewal of driver licenses, nonoperating identification licenses and title and registration the opportunity for express consent so that each person who is the subject of a record of the department may opt in, for any purpose as prescribed by the director. Express consent shall be conveyed in a form prescribed by the director and shall include at least the following:

1. Clear and conspicuous notice informing the person who is giving express consent that by giving express consent the person is allowing the department to disclose information contained in the person's motor vehicle record to any person requesting information for any purpose.

2. A written signature or an electronic signature.

3. An explanation of the difference between a one-time authorization and general consent or opt in.

G. Subject to the requirements of subsection F of this section, express consent may be conveyed as either of the following:

1. A one-time authorization submitted by a requester on a consent to release form or by other written format as prescribed by the director.

2. General consent or opt in on certain department forms.

H. Driver histories shall not be disclosed under subsection E of this section.

I. Except as provided in subsection J of this section and section 28-446, subsection B, records provided pursuant to subsections B and C of this section are subject to the fees prescribed in section 28-446, subsections A and C.

J. For records searched and provided for the purposes described in subsection E of this section, the director:

1. Shall charge a search fee that is a minimum of six hundred dollars per million records searched.

2. Shall charge a records fee that is a minimum of thirty dollars per thousand records provided.

3. May prorate the charge for fractional quantities that are searched or provided.

4. May charge only the search fee if the request is in accordance with subsection E, paragraph 2 of this section.

K. Records requests that require a database search for specific criteria within a record are subject to a search fee. In addition to this search fee, each motor vehicle record provided to a records requester as a result of a criteria search incurs record fees in accordance with subsection I of this section.