For Those Who Own a Car (some bikers do)<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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The DVLA is in the hot seat again with claims that it is still selling names and addresses of motorists to wheel-clamping and parking companies without carrying out detailed checks on their credentials. <o:p></o:p>
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Companies who have a legitimate right to such information can request it via a secure data link to the DVLA database and it costs just *£2.50 a time.
Some companies are applying for the details individually by post and apparently are not obliged to undergo the same security checks that on-line operators have to. All they have to do is download a form from the internet, add the vehicle registration number and state why they want the information and what it will be used for.
There aren’t any checks involved such as criminal records, documentation or company credentials. <o:p></o:p>
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Out of almost 335,000 enquiries requested in the past year around 20% were made by post with only 1 in a 100 being rejected due to the applicant not having reasonable cause to obtain the information.<o:p></o:p>
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Critics claim the system is open to widespread abuse and are asking the Information Commissioner to intervene. <o:p></o:p>
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The DVLA says it has received an income of around £15 million in the last 5 years selling names and addresses but that this really only covers its costs.
It also says that it has to strike a happy medium between protecting the motorist and allowing fair enforcement for land owners, but following a newspaper campaign, the agency says it has now launched a new investigation. <o:p></o:p>
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In 2005 the government ordered an inquiry after it was revealed criminals were involved in a parking scam in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Portsmouth</st1:City></st1:place> where drivers were deliberately blocked in with a van. The men, who were eventually convicted of extortion and given prison sentences, demanded a fee of £300 to release clamped cars.
*Information correct at time of posting
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