The Driver's Privacy Protection Act
View Federal Government FAQs:The Drivers Privacy Protection Act
Using Consumer Reports: What Employers Need To Know
SAMBA Frequently Asked Questions: Drivers Privacy Protection Act
Credit Reports: What Information Providers Need To Know
Consumer Reports: What Insurers Need to Know
Our Commitment to Privacy
SAMBA is committed to employing technology to preserve, rather than erode, individual privacy. As an information service company, SAMBA’s business is regulated by state and federal laws designed to balance the need for safety against the right to privacy. SAMBA endeavors to meet and exceed privacy requirements in all of our business practices, and SAMBA does not sell or provide government information for solicitation purposes.
In 1928, Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis wrote that privacy is “the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by a free people” (Olmstead v. US). Today, privacy rights face threats that could not have been imagined in Justice Brandeis’ day. Nonetheless, his sentiment is just as valid now as it was before the advance of information technologies.
At the same time, employers and insurers have a vital need to access government data about individuals who drive commercial vehicles, school buses, company vehicles or even personal vehicles on company errands. Improving motor vehicle safety and empowering employers to make safer, better-informed business decisions requires smart, efficient information access.
Driver Information
In general, an individual’s driving record includes all information necessary to identify a driver, license status, special endorsements and restrictions and current citations or moving violations. Each state motor vehicle office provides information according to its own rules, so there are as many different formats as there are states. SAMBA standardizes formats for our customers whenever possible, and provides translations of state codes and abbreviations.
State and Federal Laws
Customers may only use information in strict accordance with state and federal privacy laws and using driver information for solicitation or advertising purposes is strictly prohibited by SAMBA agreements. The most relevant federal statutes include the Drivers Privacy Protection Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (see below for links and citations).
SAMBA’s Role
SAMBA collects records from government sources on behalf of businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. The information is analyzed, filtered, formatted, and delivered in a manner that satisfies the customer’s declared safety, insurance, employment or other legally authorized purpose. SAMBA also aggregates and analyzes non-personally identifiable information collected from driver information records for statistical studies relating to motor vehicle safety and theft. SAMBA provides privacy resources to educate our customers in the proper use and management of protected information.
Information about Customers
SAMBA collects records from government sources on behalf of businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. The information is analyzed, filtered, formatted, and delivered in a manner that satisfies the customer’s declared safety, insurance, employment or other legally authorized purpose. SAMBA also aggregates and analyzes non-personally identifiable information collected from driver information records for statistical studies relating to motor vehicle safety and theft. SAMBA provides privacy resources to educate our customers in the proper use and management of protected information.
Correcting or Updating Driver Information
It is possible for driver information to contain erroneous or outdated information obtained from fallible sources. If a record contains incorrect information, immediately contact SAMBA at (888) 947-2622 or by email at customercare@samba.biz. SAMBA will attempt to reconcile the error internally and may direct the driver to the appropriate state DMV.
Cookie Usage
SAMBA uses “cookies” to enhance user experience and interaction with the SAMBA website. Cookies are small strings of text that web sites send to your internet browser. Cookies cannot retrieve information from your hard drive or retrieve your email address. Cookies will not harm your computer. A user may select to turn off cookie acceptance in his/her computer and still use the SAMBA site. However, the user will be required to reset report format and other preferences, which make the SAMBA services unique and user-friendly.
Electronic Security Processes
SAMBA uses the most current industry standard security techniques including firewalls, encryption, intrusion detection and site monitoring to protect customer and driver information under our control. It is impossible for SAMBA to protect information transmitted by email to you or from you over the public Internet. Email and Internet distributions of personal information are severely restricted.
User Names, Passwords and Secure Internet Transactions
Each user has a unique user name and a private password. In an effort to protect information, SAMBA requires that each user refresh the password on a regular basis. Users are prohibited from divulging passwords to other individuals. Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology protects web sessions using both server authentication and data encryption, ensuring that data is safe, secure and available only to registered users in your organization.
Do you have questions about SAMBA’s Privacy Policy?
Please write to:
Privacy at SAMBA Holdings, Inc,
1730 Montaño NW, Suite F
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Or, email: privacy@sambaholdings.com
What Employers Need to Know
The Drivers Privacy Protection Act safeguards the personal information of licensed drivers from improper use or disclosure. The Drivers Privacy Protection Act, originally enacted in 1994, protects the privacy of personal information assembled by state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMVs).
For further information, contact: www.ftc.gov/privacy/privacyinitiatives/credit_bus.html
To view Frequently Asked Questions on the Fair Credit Reporting Act credempl.pdf
Credit Reports: What Information Providers Need to Know
As an employer, you may use consumer reports when you hire new employees and when you evaluate employees for promotion, reassignment, and retention — as long as you comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Sections 604, 606, and 615 of the FCRA spell out your responsibilities when using consumer reports for employment purposes.
For further information, contact www.ftc.gov/privacy/privacyinitiatives/credit_bus.html
To view Frequently Asked Questions on the Fair Credit Reporting Act infopro.pdf
Consumer Reports: What Insurers Need to Know
As an insurer, you may use consumer reports to underwrite insurance policies and to screen high-risk applicants — as long as you comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
For further information, contact www.ftc.gov/privacy/privacyinitiatives/credit_bus.html
To view Frequently Asked Questions for Insurers and the Fair Credit Reporting Act insurers.pdf
Financial Privacy: The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
The “Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act” (GLB Act) includes provisions to protect consumers’ personal financial information held by financial institutions. The Financial Privacy Rule governs the collection and disclosure of customers’ personal financial information by financial institutions. It also applies to companies, whether or not they are financial institutions that receive such information. http://www.ftc.gov/privacy/glbact/
Do you have questions about SAMBA’s Privacy Policy?
Please write to:
Privacy at SAMBA Holdings, Inc,
1730 Montaño NW, Suite F
Albuquerque, NM 87107
Or, email privacy@sambaholdings.com