Agents running license plates not illegal

In the Feb. 15 paper I read another article, “Agents menaced observers at their homes, filings say,” similar to reports in various media outlets over the last few weeks. The stories describe visits by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to the homes of citizens exercising their constitutional rights as observers. There is clearly confusion about how this can actually happen.
The key to these situations is that the citizen is most likely driving their personal vehicle. With the license plate number of any vehicle, ICE and literally thousands of other individuals and organizations are able to gain access to the state computerized driver’s license and motor vehicle registration system. This system gives all users real-time access to the home address and personal data about the registered owner of the vehicle. This system has been in operation for at least 40 years. Now, many law enforcement officers use terminals in their vehicles, thereby facilitating quick access.
It may surprise many that this practice is legal. Several years ago the Legislature amended the Minnesota statutes that regulate access to motor vehicle and driver data. It did so by incorporating by reference into Minnesota law the provisions of the misleadingly named federal law Driver’s Privacy Protection Act of 1994. This federal law authorizes many organizations and individuals to gain access to vehicle and driver data. Law enforcement is among those authorized users. This system operates in real time so that when ICE agents see a plate number, they can make an inquiry and have the home address of the vehicle owner in seconds.
I hope this sheds some light on what many of us find is a frightening and totally unacceptable use of law enforcement resources.
Don Gemberling
St. Paul
Co-chair of Minnesotans for Open Government.

Mail: Missing in Action
There is a problem with the USPS (Post Office) mail: Either it arrives late or very late or it disappears completely. I have had checks take months to clear my bank account. I mailed a check that took 15 days for the company to receive it. I mailed it 11 days before its due date. They charged me a late fee plus interest. I’m fighting the charges. I have talked to numerous people and businesses and they are having the same problems. Either it’s late or goes missing. I now write down the date I mail any check on the statement as my evidence to when I mailed the check.
Thomas F Landherr
Byron