| Getting someone's driver's license is not an easy | | | | non-personal information, so it's easier to see a |
| matter because such personal information is | | | | person's records if you already have their driver's |
| protected to a great deal by privacy laws, as it | | | | license number (particularly if you also have their |
| should be. The last thing you need is a stalker or | | | | signed permission). |
| prankster to be able to get your personal | | | | On the other hand, if you already have a |
| information with little effort, a few bucks and no | | | | legitimate reason to see their driving record you |
| legitimate reason to have it. | | | | may not have to search for their drivers license |
| Indeed, the DPPA (Driver's Privacy Protection | | | | number as driving records often include the |
| Act) is a federal law passed in the 1990s and | | | | driver's license number. They may not, however, |
| updated in 2000 specifically designed to protect | | | | provide other personal information, such as the |
| drivers' personal information from searches and | | | | home address. |
| clearly restricts the reasons why anyone can | | | | Should you opt for using one of the online |
| have access to drivers license records. | | | | third-party services that help people search for |
| Online ads for drivers license searches often state | | | | drivers license numbers, be aware that they are |
| they can get this information easily, but careful | | | | not free. They also must meet the various state |
| reading of their sites...at least legitimate | | | | restrictions as the DPPA allows states to have |
| sites...makes it clear that access is restricted to | | | | more restrictive policies about revealing driver |
| people with a legitimate need for such | | | | license records, and you may find you don't get |
| Department of Motor Vehicles records...for | | | | the information you're hoping for. (California, for |
| example, employment or court purposes. | | | | example, only includes the driver's name.) |
| Now, while the DPPA restricts access to | | | | Even with those restrictions, using a third-party |
| personally identifiable information such as a | | | | service will generally be more cost-effective than |
| person's name, license number, and address, it | | | | hiring a private detective, and will certainly will |
| does not cover information about the person's | | | | likely be more successful than you trying to find |
| driving record, status, moving violations and other | | | | this information on your own. |