WAC 308-56A-090   Disclosure of individual vehicle owner information.  (1) What vehicle record owner information is protected from disclosure? Vehicle information protected from disclosure is the same as under chapters 42.56 and 46.12 RCW which includes:

     (a) Name and address information;

     (b) Social Security numbers;

     (c) Medical or disability information; and

     (d) Telephone numbers.

     (2) Who may receive disclosure of individual vehicle owner names and addresses?

     (a) Government agencies that require use of name and address information in their normal course of business;

     (b) Any business entity that requires use of name and address information in their normal course of business in accordance with these rules;

     (c) Vehicle manufacturers who require vehicle ownership information for recall of their product;

     (d) Individuals that provide proof of personal identification:

     (i) For vehicles currently registered in their name; or

     (ii) For vehicles they can provide a bill of sale or acceptable documents indicating that they purchased the vehicle.

     (e) Please see subsection (3) of this section for additional restrictions.

     Business and government entities requesting disclosure of individual vehicle owner names and addresses must enter into a disclosure agreement with the department.

     (3) When both a mailing and residence address are recorded on the vehicle record, which address will be disclosed? Where both a mailing address and residence address are recorded on the vehicle record and are different, only the mailing address will be disclosed. Both addresses will be disclosed in response to requests from courts, law enforcement agencies, or government entities with enforcement, investigative, or taxing authority and only for use in the normal course of conducting their business.

     (4) What documentation does the department require to disclose vehicle owner name(s) and address(es)? The department requires:

     (a) A signed and notarized vehicle/vessel record disclosure request application form provided by the department and completed by the applicant indicating the specific purpose for which the information will be used; and

     (b) A disclosure agreement with the department as required by RCW 46.12.380.

     (c) Acceptable business entity verification; or

     (d) A contract with the department.

     (5) What is acceptable business verification? For purposes of this section acceptable business verification includes:

     (a) If the requester is a licensed Washington business, a copy of its current master business license;

     (b) If the requester is a business that is not required to be licensed in this state, its federal employer identification number/federal tax number (or Uniform Business Identifier) on official letterhead with a notarized signature of the owner or an authorized representative;

     (c) If an attorney, a copy of the current bar card; or

     (d) If a private investigator, a copy of the current private investigator's license.

     (6) Does a business need to supply a new form and copy of the business license each time vehicle information is requested? Yes, each time a request is made for vehicle information a new form and copy of the business license is needed, unless a contract exists between the business and the department.

     (7) If a business entity has entered into a contract or agreement with the department, is a separate request for each inquiry required? No. If a business entity has entered into a signed contract between the business and the department, a separate request for each inquiry is not required.

     (8) Are businesses allowed individual owner information on vehicle records? Yes, if a business requires individual owner information to conduct its regular business and qualifies under RCW 46.12.380 and 18 U.S.C. 27.21 (commonly known as Driver Privacy Protection Act), it may receive individual vehicle owner information.

     (9) Who may release the vehicle owner name and address information?

     (a) The public disclosure unit of the vehicle services division of the department of licensing; or

     (b) Agents and subagents, but only when disclosing information for purposes described in subsection (2)(d) of this section.

     (10) When may the department disclose the individual name(s) and address(es) of vehicle owners? Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 42.56 RCW, the department may disclose names and addresses of vehicle owners when:

     (a) The requesting party is a business entity that requests the information for use in their normal course of business;

     (b) The request is in writing, signed by the person requesting disclosure, contains the full legal name and address of the requesting party and/or their business, and specifies the purpose for which the information will be used; and

     (c) The requesting party enters into a disclosure agreement with the department in which the party:

     (i) Agrees they will use the information only for the purpose stated in the request for the information; and

     (ii) Will not use, or facilitate the use of the information for the purpose of making any unsolicited business contact with a person named in the disclosed information.

     (11) What does the term "unsolicited business contact" mean? The term "unsolicited business contact" means a contact that is intended to result in or promote the sale of any goods or services to a person named in the disclosure information. The term does not apply to situations where the requesting party and such person have been involved in a business transaction prior to the date of the disclosure request and where the request is made in connection with the transaction.

     (12) Is the department required to notify the vehicle owner when ownership information is disclosed? When the department grants a request from an attorney or private investigator for information under this section, the department will provide notice to the vehicle owner that the request has been granted. The notice will provide the name and address of the requesting party. Additionally, if a contract holder releases owner information to a private investigator or attorney, they must notify the vehicle owner that a request has been granted, and include the name and address of the requesting party.

     (13) How long will the department retain the request for disclosure of vehicle owner information? The department will retain the request for disclosure for three years.

     (14) Who is responsible for assuring that the information is used appropriately? Any person, business, entity or association that receives vehicle owner information under this section is responsible for assuring that the information received is not used for a purpose contrary to the agreement between the person, business, entity or association and the department.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.01.110. 06-15-059, § 308-56A-090, filed 7/12/06, effective 8/12/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.16.010, 46.12.370, and 46.12.380. 05-18-002, § 308-56A-090, filed 8/25/05, effective 9/25/05. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.01.110, 46.12.101, 88.02.070. 02-01-123, § 308-56A-090, filed 12/19/01, effective 1/19/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.01.110 and 46.12.101. 00-20-065, § 308-56A-090, filed 10/3/00, effective 11/3/00; 98-12-099, § 308-56A-090, filed 6/3/98, effective 7/4/98. Statutory Authority: RCW 42.17.250(1), 46.01.110, 46.12.151 and46.12.380 . 96-03-047, § 308-56A-090, filed 1/11/96, effective 2/11/96. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.01.110 and 88.02.070. 91-03-088, § 308-56A-090, filed 1/18/91, effective 2/18/91.]