DMV to Stiffen Rules on Release of Addresses

Reacting to the recent murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer, Gov. George Deukmejian on Saturday ordered the Department of Motor Vehicles to restrict the public release of home addresses in order to protect motorists from possible harm or harassment.

In his regular weekly radio speech, the governor noted that law enforcement authorities have said the prime suspect in the Schaeffer murder case in Los Angeles was able to obtain her home address through driver’s license information available to the public for a nominal fee.

The suspect, Robert John Bardo, 19, is in Los Angeles County Jail, awaiting trial. Investigators said he got Schaeffer’s home address from a Tucson, Ariz., private investigating firm, who got it from someone who checked DMV public records. Bardo allegedly told the firm that Schaeffer was an old friend and he wanted to send her a gift.

Schaeffer was killed by an assailant July 18, when she answered the door to her apartment in the Fairfax District.

Deukmejian said that effective Oct. 1, all commercial organizations requesting personal information from the DMV will be required to register with the department and adhere to detailed new agreements on how the data will be used.

In addition, the governor said the DMV will establish a 10-day waiting period before issuing a person’s home address to individuals requesting information.

During this waiting period, the department will notify the person that a request has been made for his or her personal information. The person will receive the name of the company or individual who made the request and the reason for it.

“The information will still be delivered,” said Kevin Brett, the governor’s press secretary, “but there will be a warning issued to the individual.”

While the vast majority of DMV personal information requests are for “legitimate, lawful purposes,” Deukmejian said, “there is growing concern that this information is also easily available to those who have violent or illegal intentions, such as the suspect in the Rebecca Schaeffer case.”

‘Legitimate Reasons’

Among the “legitimate reasons” for obtaining DMV personal information, the governor listed automobile manufacturers who need home addresses to notify car owners about recall programs involving unsafe vehicles, insurance companies who need an individual’s driving record before issuing a policy, and lawyers and creditors who are trying to find an individual “for proper business reasons.”

Details for implementing the directive are still being worked out, Brett said. In general, however, business firms that have day-to-day business contact with the DMV would continue to get the requested information immediately. But firms and individuals who do not have this kind of regular activity would be subject to the 10-day waiting period, Brett said.

In addition to issuing his directive, Deukmejian indicated he also is willing to work with the Legislature to develop a plan to make it even harder to obtain private home addresses or other personal information from the DMV.

“Our goal should be to limit access to this information to requesters who have legitimate business purposes,” he said.

“By taking these steps, we can provide an additional measure of protection for our citizens, while at the same time keeping information available to those entities which truly have a compelling need for the information.”

Roos Legislation

Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Mike Roos (D-Los Angeles) is the author of a bill that would allow any citizen to request that his or her home address not be released by the DMV.

An alternative address, such as a person’s place of employment or a post office box that would accept and forward mail to the individual, would be provided instead.

Roos’ bill is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Brett said the governor has “no position” on the legislation at this time. It is supported by the California section of the Screen Actors Guild national board of directors.

“Individuals, whether they are movie stars, professional sports figures, corporate executives or average citizens,” Roos said, “should not have to contend with government records being used by deranged individuals to harass them or stalk them down like hunted prey.”