- April 24, 2024
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Pointing to a need to protect personal information, a House Republican filed a proposal Monday, Jan. 3, that would prevent the release of traffic-crash reports. House Criminal Justice & Public Safety Chairman Chuck Brannan, R-Macclenny, filed the proposal (HB 1121) for consideration during the legislative session that will start Jan. 11.
The bill, in part, would create a public-records exemption for crash reports, though law-enforcement agencies would be able to provide summary information about crashes to news media. “Crash reports reveal significant personal information, not only about drivers involved in a crash but also about motor vehicle owners, motor vehicle passengers, and other witnesses and about owners of non-vehicle property damaged in a crash,” the bill says. “Pervasive use of the Internet and related technologies abet those with malicious purposes in exploiting the use of personal information, such as a motorist's date of birth, driver license number, and address, creating ever-expanding threats to motorist privacy and security never envisioned in generations past.”
The bill also would create an exemption for driver information, such as dates of birth and addresses, included in traffic citations. Driver names would not be included in the citation exemption.
