FBI Access to DMV Records (H 5211)

According to a report from the General Accountability Office released in the spring of 2016, RI was set to become one of 18 states in the process of negotiating MOUs with the FBI to facilitate their access to driver’s license images for purposes of facial recognition matching.

According to a report from the General Accountability Office released in the spring of 2016, Rhode Island was set to become one of 18 states in the process of negotiating Memorandums of Understanding with the FBI to facilitate their access to driver’s license images for purposes of facial recognition matching. At that time, the ACLU raised concerns about it, and the DMV agreed it would not participate in the program. This legislation is designed to codify that refusal into law, and is an important measure designed to ensure that the privacy of every Rhode Islander is protected when they go to the DMV. No further action was taken on this legislation after being heard.