Florida’s Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) protects the personal information of drivers that is collected by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV). Under this law, sensitive data such as a driver’s name, address, Social Security number, photograph, driver’s license number, and medical or disability information cannot be disclosed or used by government agencies or private parties without a permitted purpose or the driver’s consent. The DPPA allows limited exceptions for uses such as law enforcement, court proceedings, insurance claims, vehicle safety recalls, and certain government functions. Unauthorized access, use, or sale of motor vehicle records can result in civil liability, fines, and damages, giving individuals the right to sue for violations.

DPPA (Driver Privacy Protection Act) lawsuits in Florida often center on the unauthorized accessing, selling, or misuse of personal motor vehicle records by private companies, such as parking management firms using license plate cameras or third-party data brokers. Recent 2024-2025 litigation has targeted companies using DMV data to send, for example, parking citations.

Key details regarding DPPA litigation and issues in Florida:

  • Parking Management Lawsuits: Professional Parking Management (PPM) is facing class actions for using camera-based, data-driven, license plate recognition to send "Parking Charge Notices," allegedly accessing personal driver records without a permissible purpose.

  • Data Broker Misuse: Lawsuits have previously highlighted the resale of Florida driver information to marketing companies, including cases involving Cross-Sell LLC.

  • Permissible Use Violations: The DPPA requires that personal information from motor vehicle records only be used for specific purposes (e.g., insurance, court proceedings). Misusing this for marketing or, as alleged in some suits, private debt collection violates federal law.

  • Liability: Violations can lead to civil penalties, including

    per violation, damages, and, in some cases, punitive damages.

  • Statute of Limitations: The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has clarified that DPPA lawsuits have strict time limits, which cannot be extended simply because the driver was unaware their data was accessed.