North Dakota Bill to Block Access to Car Accident Reports

When residents across the state of North Dakota read about or watched the news, people are generally presented with stories from their local area and around the globe. In most cases, the stories are well informed and help people to get a better picture of the world around them. According to some North Dakota legislators, some public information should not be public anymore.

We’re talking about the information gathered during a motor vehicle accident and if some legislators have their way, this information may not be accessible anymore to the public. The concern many state representatives have revolves around the ease at which the public can access these records and how much information is actually contained within these records. According to some politicians, it’s far too easy right now for insurance companies and other businesses to “phish” for information.

Although the main concern seems to include people’s rights to privacy, a new bill being introduced into the Senate could actually prevent the general public from accessing this information as well. This could mean that family and friends would not be able to get the details contained within car accident reports specific to their loved one who may have been injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident.

According to supporters of the bill, with the present wording of the law, it’s far too easy for insurance companies and other agencies to use the information for their own personal, financial gain. But despite this statement, one lobbyist against the bill points out that the language of the bill does just the opposite of its intended purpose. As it stands, the bill would allow insurance companies access to the information while excluding the public.

Although many people in the state point out that the bill could see several revisions before it goes to vote, it still raises concerns about public record laws. Which begs the question: could this bill violate a person’s right to public information in the future?

Source: The Jamestown Sun, “Bill would seal crash information,” Emily Welker, March 20, 2013.