Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 61. MOTOR VEHICLES

CHAPTER 11. RECORDS AND REPORTS OF CONVICTIONS

Part 5. Montana Driver Privacy Protection Act

Permitted Disclosure Of Personal Information, Excluding Highly Restricted Personal Information -- Specific Uses

61-11-509. Permitted disclosure of personal information, excluding highly restricted personal information -- specific uses. Upon application, proof of the identity of the person requesting a record, and payment of the fees required in 61-11-510 and subject to the provisions of 61-11-105, the department may disclose personal information, excluding highly restricted personal information, from a motor vehicle record to a person who represents that the use of the personal information will be limited to one or more of the following uses:

(1) in the normal course of business by a legitimate business or its agents, employees, or contractors, but only:

(a) to verify the accuracy of personal information submitted by the individual to the business or its agents, employees, or contractors; and

(b) if the submitted information is not correct or is no longer correct, to obtain the correct information for the purposes of preventing fraud by pursuing legal remedies against or recovering on a debt or security interest against the individual;

(2) by a party in interest, or the agent of a party in interest, in a civil, criminal, administrative, or arbitral proceeding in any court or government agency or before any self-regulatory body, including the service of process, an investigation in anticipation of litigation, and the execution or enforcement of judgments and orders, or pursuant to an order of any court;

(3) by an insurer or insurance-support organization or a self-insured entity or its agents, employees, or contractors, in connection with the following arising under insurance policies:

(a) the investigation of claims;

(b) antifraud activities;

(c) ratemaking; or

(d) underwriting;

(4) by an employer or its agent or insurer to obtain or verify information relating to a holder of a commercial driver's license required under federal or state law;

(5) to conduct research activities and produce statistical reports and journalistic articles as long as the personal information is not published, disclosed to a third party, or used to contact individuals;

(6) to provide notice to the owners of towed, abandoned, or impounded vehicles;

(7) for use by any licensed private investigative agency or licensed security service for any purpose provided under this section;

(8) for use in activities pertaining to:

(a) motor vehicle or driver safety and theft;

(b) motor vehicle emissions;

(c) motor vehicle product alterations, recalls, or advisories;

(d) performance monitoring of motor vehicles and dealers by motor vehicle manufacturers; and

(e) removal of nonowner records from the original owner records of motor vehicle manufacturers;

(9) for any other use that is specifically related to the operation of a motor vehicle or to public safety and that is authorized by state law; and

(10) for any use by a requester who demonstrates to the department that the requester has obtained the express consent of the person to whom the information pertains.

History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 363, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 533, L. 2003.