Senate passes DMV title modernization bill aimed at reducing fraud, senators seek data privacy assurances
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Senate Bill 135, a DMV modernization measure to improve motor vehicle title databases and reduce fraud, passed the Senate after sponsors said it does not authorize release of driver's private data; the Senate voted Aye 32, Noes 8.
The Virginia Senate advanced a motor vehicle title modernization bill on Feb. 5, moving to align title processes with interstate vehicle commerce and reduce fraud.
Senator from Virginia Beach described Senate Bill 135 as a modernization bill that “improves notice, reduces theft and fraud, and prevents record manipulation,” and moved that it pass. The senator from Alexandria urged colleagues that she had spoken with the DMV commissioner and received assurances that, under “section 209” and related code provisions, the measure does not authorize the DMV to release private driver data such as license numbers or Social Security numbers without explicit permission; the senator said the attorney general's office had previously advised similar protections. With those assurances, proponents urged support.
The bill passed on a recorded vote, Aye 32, Noes 8. No additional state appropriation or implementation timetable was specified on the floor; sponsors said the change will improve DMV ability to ascertain owner and lienholder information for mechanics and storage lien enforcement and for abandoned vehicles when titles are out of state.