Twenty-two states have filed a lawsuit against the federal government to block access to a database containing the personal information of roughly 17 million commercial drivers. The lawsuit, announced Thursday, names the Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.
Background
The states argue that the federal government’s demand for the commercial driver data is unlawful and threatens privacy. The administration claims the information is necessary to enforce existing law and keep highways safe. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the federal government is entitled to the data.
The lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal fights between the states and the federal government over access to personal information. The states have also challenged federal efforts to obtain state data tied to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families participation, as well as voter registration records.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a statement, “This database was created 40 years ago so states could share information with each other to stop unsafe drivers from operating commercial vehicles, and the federal government’s decision to ransack that database puts the whole system in jeopardy.” New York Attorney General Letitia James posted about the lawsuit on social media, stating, “I’m suing to stop the Trump administration from seizing millions of confidential state driving records without any lawful justification. We won’t allow the federal government to force states to choose between protecting Americans’ privacy and upholding public safety.”
Secretary Duffy responded on social media, saying the lawsuit shows “liberal states are siding with illegal truck drivers over the safety of American citizens.” He added that the 22 states are trying to block the department from obtaining DMV files “to verify who is driving semis – information that we are ENTITLED to get,” and called the lawsuits “another tactic by the left to protect illegals in this country.”
Details of the Lawsuit
The federal government has ordered production of the full Commercial Driver’s License Information System database, which covers about 17 million drivers. The government has threatened to cut more than $10 million in federal funding to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators if the organization does not comply. The states note that they, not the federal government, are responsible for verifying a driver’s identity, medical fitness, immigration status, and driving history across jurisdictions.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
