FC: Journalists endorse public review of driver licenses

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

[This is an interesting issue because it pits two important principles
against each other: Open government and privacy. Certainly not all
government records about individuals should be open to the public (think
tax returns), and this is probably an area where reasonable people can
disagree. But SPJ's position is also reasonable, so open-government privacy
advocates might suggest reducing driver licensing in the first place. --DBM]

*******

[From Computer Privacy Digest Sun, 24 Oct 99]

Wednesday, October 6, 1999

OPEN DRIVERS LICENSE RECORDS TO ALL
A Report From The SPJ Convention

by Mark Fitzgerald

INDIANAPOLIS - Anyone should be able to examine drivers licenses
and records, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) declared
yesterday.

In a resolution approved unanimously at its 90th annual convention,
SPJ opposes proposals to give news organizations access to drivers
records that the general public would not have.

Congress recently amended the federal Drivers Privacy Protection
Act to forbid states from releasing personal information on drivers'
records without the permission of the individual license holder.
The amendment grants exceptions to employers, insurance companies,
direct marketers, and other businesses.

Keeping drivers records public helps safety, SPJ argues. The
examination of motor vehicle records by the media and the general
public provides a public service by evaluating the driving history
of school bus drivers, mass transit drivers, airline pilots,
emergency medical technicians, and other persons involved in the
transportation and protection of others, the resolution states.




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