Opinion ID: 3004537
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Effect of the DPPA on the Village’s Parking

Text: Citation With this understanding of the statute firmly in mind, we turn to the particulars of this case in its current posture. Certainly, the complaint before us plausibly alleges that the information actually disclosed by the parking citation was not “[f]or use by a[] . . . law enforcement agency[] in carrying out its functions,” or “[f]or use in connection with any civil[] . . . [or] administrative[] . . . proceeding . . ., including the service of process.” 18 U.S.C. § 2721(b)(1), (4). 24 No. 10-3243 The citation provided to Mr. Senne did constitute service of process in the administrative proceeding regarding the parking violation.1 8 Further, the issuance of a parking citation is part of the function of the Village’s police department. However, the complaint does put in issue whether all of the disclosed information actually was used in effectuating either of these purposes. The otherwise protected information actually disclosed here included Mr. Senne’s full name, address, driver’s license number, date of birth, sex, height and weight. It is not at all clear that either of the statutory exceptions at issue implicated the release of all of this information. With respect to some of that information, it is difficult to conceive, even on a theoretical level, how such information could play a role in the excepted law enforcement purposes. That issue cannot be resolved on review of the entry of judgment on a motion to dismiss by the Village. Further proceedings will permit the parties to explore this question. There are very real safety and security concerns at stake here. For example, an individual seeking to stalk or rape can go down a street where overnight parking is banned and collect the home address and personal information of women whose vehicles have been tagged. He can ascertain the name, 18 See 625 ILCS 5/11-208.3(b)(3) (authorizing municipalities to effect service for parking violations by placing notice on the vehicle); Palatine, Illinois, Code of Ordinances § 2-707(b)(3) (allowing complaints to be affixed to “the property where the violation is found”). No. 10-3243 25 exact address including the apartment number and even other information such as sex, age, height and weight pertinent to his nefarious intent. Similarly, a public official, having gone to great lengths to protect himself and his family from the threat of violence that unfortunately every public official faces, bears the risk that an expired parking meter violation might provide an opportunity for an individual intent on causing the official or his family bodily harm or death. Indeed, in the original hearing on the DPPA, law enforcement agents themselves expressed concerns about their personal safety and the safety of their families because of information that otherwise could be obtained from the records associated with their personal vehicles. 1 9 The possibilities for identity theft are obvious. Given the concern of Congress for these safety and security issues, the disclosed information actually must be used for the purpose stated in the exception.2 0 19 See Hearing on H.R. 3365, 1994 WL 212833 (Feb. 3, 1994) (statement of Donald L. Cahill, Legislative Chairman, Fraternal Order of Police). 20 The issue of the allocation of the burden of proof with respect to the exceptions, see Thomas v. George, Hartz, Lundeen, Fulmer, Johnstone, King, & Stevens, P.A., 525 F.3d 1107, 1110-14 (11th Cir. 2008), is premature at this stage of the proceeding. We express no opinion on the matter. We also note that our holding today makes any discussion of the appropriate measure of damages under the statute premature. We therefore pretermit any discussion of the matter. 26 No. 10-3243