ACLU Settles Suit Over Rhode Island’s Uninsured Drivers Database

The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island has settled a lawsuit with the state Division of Motor Vehicles over how it’s putting in place a database designed to identify uninsured drivers.

The ACLU says the database established by a 2013 state law has no regulations to keep drivers’ personal information from being released. It also says there’s nothing to ensure registrations won’t be revoked mistakenly. It wants better oversight of the private company running the database.

The lawsuit filed Tuesday noted the DMV had begun sending drivers’ information to the company, but hadn’t yet put in place any privacy safeguards.

The DMV denied the allegations but on Friday agreed to establish regulations before notifying drivers their registration will be revoked without proof of insurance.