This was in the news today - must say I'd be quite pleased if people couldn't find out where we lived by checking the register after noting our licence plate details:
Thieves track cars on vehicle register
18 November 2005
By KIM RUSCOE
Stalkers, car thieves and road-rage motorists are tracking their victims through the motor vehicles register, sparking moves to have it closed to the public.
More than eight million vehicle owner records were provided to the public in the 2004-2005 year, each for a $2.25 charge. The register is owned by the Transport Ministry and administered by government agency Land Transport New Zealand.
A briefing paper issued to new Transport Minister David Parker said direct marketers were the biggest users of the register. One company downloaded the records of 250,000 owners each month.
The names were then used to compile mailing lists for advertising or market research.
"Many people resent the fact that personal details which they are compelled by law to provide are made available for commercial purposes," the paper said.
The register had also been used by car thieves and stalkers to track people or trace vehicles.
"Angry motorists, in the aftermath of a road-rage incident, have used the register to trace the driver of the other vehicle involved in the incident."
Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven, Privacy Commissioner Marie Shroff and the ERegistrar of motor Vehicles had all received complaints, the paper said.
Transport officials are drafting a Cabinet paper that would stem abuse of the system, including protecting against the disclosure of vehicle owners' personal information.
Ms Shroff had called for a ban on issuing personal information from public registers for commercial purposes.
Land Transport spokesman Andy Knackstedt said he had heard of one case in which a man saw an attractive woman drive past in her car, noted her registration number and tracked down her name and address through the register.
He stressed that Land Transport was not selling personal information. "But when someone applies for it and pays for it, the law requires us to give it to them."
Transport Ministry spokeswoman Sharon Stephenson said any person who quoted a number plate of a vehicle and paid a small fee could get, from any Post Shop, the name and address of the registered owner of the motor vehicle.
There was no restriction on the purpose for which the information could be used.
Wellington crime services manager Detective Inspector Harry Quinn said vehicle owners who believed they were being stalked could arrange to have their personal details protected.
"It's quite a common process out of the Family Court. Mum doesn't want her former husband tracking her or her kids," he said.
But there were many other databases that could be used to find people.
"Everyone has the right to find someone," Mr Quinn said. "If you're a finance company you need to be able to find your car if someone is not paying the bills on it."
Organised crime groups aiming at high-value and specialty vehicles were known to have used the register to pick vehicles in the past, he said.
The ministry's proposal to provide protection of vehicle owners' personal details would be put to the Cabinet in the new year.
The briefing paper said access to the register by insurance companies pursuing claims and by lawyers involved in civil claims was beneficial and could be retained. Provision was also made for advising owners of manufacturers' safety recalls.
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Originally Posted by marty
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