Another DMV sham - Florida DMV sells private info for money

Well, what do you know....
Here is another example of (yet another) DMV sham. This one is being perpetrated by the state of Florida.

Apparently, the state of Florida's DMV sells the private information of the citizens' registered vehicles and licensed drivers "to make money."
A reported revenue of $63 million dollars was gained by the Florida DMV, while unsuspecting Floridans had no idea their private information was being used as a commodity for profit. The state's Department of Motor Vehicles claim they are not obligated to inform its residents about the practice and, also, claims that it is perfectly legal to sell the licensed driver's private information for profit.

Keep in mind, the residents have no idea that their personal information has been breached and being sold without their consent, to whom, what information is being sold, nor are they being offered any option to "opt out." I believe it is a law that businesses are required to inform consumers, and disclose what they may do with their private information collected.

What gives the DMV special privileges to trample upon the privacy rights of its licensed drivers and vehicle owners? Is a state's DMV immune to honoring a citizen's right to privacy?
HOW is this LEGAL?
It is being done behind their backs, for a profit, by a state institution which most of us believe should be trustworthy. In fact, it is an enforceable LAW of every state that citizens register and license their vehicles. We all must comply for driving privileges as residents of any state. But, is it LEGAL for states to MONOPOLIZE off the personal information of its citizens without their knowledge or consent?

I believe citizens have a right to know the DMV is making money off their personal information. Otherwise, the practice begins to resemble what most of us call "extortion" and/or "entrapment" with the use of force to comply, because it is a LAW to comply with the DMV?

I wonder how many other states are also practicing this illegally distorted way to gain revenue off the backs of their citizens, trampling all over their right to privacy?

Check these out:
"'Many North Carolinians turned privacy disclosure forms in to keep their names off a Division of Motor Vehicles list that's sold to marketing companies, but that list is just the tip of the iceberg.'"
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/127292/

FL agency sells drivers’ license information
"'Earlier this year, the courts ruled that selling your information is legal.'
"'That's just one step closer to national registration, big brother and anyone can have all of your information at a click of a mouse," says Fort Myers resident Mandalin Paul.'"
http://www.abc-7.com/story/15124857/2011/07/21/fl-agency-sells-drivers-license-information

Fox report video:
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1069503187001/state-cashing-in-on-drivers-personal-information

How do you feel about this? 

  (I would feel betrayed and deceived that the DMV of any state would jeopardize the security of my personal information without my consent and knowledge. As far as I am concerned, it is an infringement on my personal right to privacy by a supposedly "trusted" state government agency. They have a fiduciary responsibility to protect my personal information.)

Do you mind if the DMV makes money off your personal information without your knowledge or consent?

  (I am not a free commodity by which my personal information should be traded for personal or commercial gain without my consent and knowledge.)

Do you expect the DMV to at least offer an "opt-out" form?

  (At the very least, I would expect to be able to opt-out and prevent my personal information to be kept private. If I wanted to sell my personal information, I think that should be my decision. Not the DMV's.)

Travelers: beware of state-to-state intrusions on freedoms

This is totally mind-boggling! 
With all the traveling I have done these past two years or so, I have never become more aware of how much government can intrude upon the rights and freedoms of "the people." Never did I dream that such impositions by state laws and micro-governing institutions could have the power to overtake our freedom to travel within our country, twist laws, and impose restrictions to gain revenue.

I believe we have entered into an era where we are considered as a "commodity" in the eyes of our governing institutions and subject to full enforcement of illegal and deceitfully created laws, for the sake of "greed."

This is not an empty statement.
I have gone to court to fight against a wicked citation brought against me by the state of Nevada, and won my case. My victimless violation was, (get this ... ) 'for visiting my relatives living in the state of Nevada too long, without registering my vehicle in their state!'

WHAT?...!!!!

YES, I'M SERIOUS...
And, I have not been the only victim of this illegal, unconstitutional activity. I have found blogs and articles where others visiting, or just driving through the state, were also issued these "right-infringing" bogus citations. One fellow from Utah wrote "his lawyers were having a hay-day with this fiasco" after he was pulled over and issued the same wicked citation while traveling through the state to get home, on the interstate highway. (Now, this guy is a true Patriot!)

Interestingly, Nevada spends billions of dollars in ads, enticing travelers, vacationers, and tourists to come and visit their state. They make their state glitter with fun, excitement, glamor, and chances to WIN BIG with all their casinos.

Doesn't this scheme appear to be what most of us know as "entrapment" "racketeering" "extortion" and other terms of illegal practices?

Supposedly, the Nevada law is supposed to only target people who have moved to the state and

• are working within the state, 
• have children enrolled in their school systems, and are 
• permanently living in the state, and 
• have failed to register and license their vehicles in the state. 

Now, I don't have a problem with that, and believe they have every right to pursue anyone who has not complied with that law. But they have distorted that law and gone too far. They are using their citizens as "Gestapo informants" and their law enforcement officers as "Gestapo enforcement collectors" rather than protect citizens and go after criminals. (This is misuse of authority and brings shame upon their local police force and law enforcement officers. What a horrible dishonor to those who desire to protect their citizens!) 
Many Nevadans had also posted their disgust and resentment of the state to encourage residents to become their backing "Gestapo" for raising revenue off the backs of tourists and visiting citizens, which is where I have taken their own statements. Though the state denied tourists and visitors in the state would be cited, Nevadans knew that promise would not be kept. Right, they are. I am proof of that.
Even Nevada's own DMV officers agreed with me that the practice was entrapment, wrong, illegal, an infringement of freedom and rights, but are forced to carry out the enforcement of the law.

 INFO:
As explained to me by Nevada's own DMV officers, "the cities, counties, and micro-governing institutions are hurting and need money. And this is how they are getting it." They have even bragged about how much money they have brought in. In fact, a local legal adviser added that my vehicle was most likely being "targeted" because I have out-of-state plates. All Nevada residents were encouraged to call in and report out-of-state plates to their local authorities so the vehicle could be cited with this violation. (If you ask me, that definitely leaves an open back door and invitation for serious abuses of the law.) Furthermore, there doesn't have to be any actual issuing officer. The owner of the vehicle is simply mailed a "citation letter" to the address of where reported, never given any opportunity to explain their circumstances or how long they will be in the state, or speaking directly with an officer. So, you are basically deemed guilty and must prove your innocence first, and are railroaded into paying ridiculous fines and having to comply with the demands of the citation.

1. Pay fines: $100 for the first 30 days, then $1,000 and more beyond the 30 days (they were seeking over $1,300 for my illegal citation)
2. Obtain proof of Nevada approved auto insurance
3. Pass a smog check
4. Register and license vehicle to Nevada

Here's the real kicker...
If you do not pay the initial $100 FIRST, you will have no access to any information regarding the citation or how to settle it outside of court. In essence, you will not have any idea of how to prepare to fight this citation without retaining a lawyer. I had tried for over 2 months to gain access to information, including the actual citation and charges against me. The phone numbers I was able to get through other departments were only dead-end automated systems where you can leave a message, only.  An operator from another department admitted that the phone number was automated and I would never get an actual person to speak with. (All those messages you leave, by the way, will never be returned, either.) 
So, without paying money first, you are refused any access to information. (That's illegal) THEY WANT YOUR MONEY! PERIOD!

Everyone I contacted, lawyers, advisers, my senators, etc., all agreed this was illegal and expressed disbelief that Nevada could even do this. Nonetheless, they did, they are, and you can't get out of it without a lawyer. I really believe that if I had not finally retained an attorney to represent me, I do believe they would have railroaded me with the fines and forced compliance with ALL their demands, even though I am not a Nevada resident. I was threatened with arrest, jail, criminalization, and further financial extortion if I did not comply fully with all their requirements.

Here's what I believe is becoming the new trend with our governing institutions:

I, and most other average US citizens, are viewed as ignorant peasants who are easily mislead, manipulated, and easy prey from which to extort money because we probably don't know our Constitution, or our rights, as US citizens.  

BIG MISTAKE, NEVADA...
YOU ONLY SUCCEEDED IN PISSING ME OFF!
What they tried to do to me was WRONG, law or no law, and they knew it.
This is a despicable attitude of Nevada's governing entities to allow distortion of a law. This practice is a deliberate crime against fellow US citizens of other states, ignoring US citizens' Constitutional freedom and rights to travel freely within our own country.
This distorted practice of their law is condoned by the governor's office, state's attorney general, and their authorities, as every one of these establishments responded to my inquiry with rudeness, indifference, and a refusal to listen or have concern pertaining to my situation which they had created.
I am still shell-shocked with disbelief at how they illegally tried to force me to relinquish my home state of residency and tried forcing me by use of threats of fines, arrest, and criminalization of my clean record to become a Nevadan, because they need money. THAT IS EXTORTION.

 *****extortion |ikˈstôr sh ən|
noun
the practice of obtaining something, esp. money, through force or threats.

*****
Most of us are all experiencing very hard economic times, but this is outrageous behavior by a state.

If people don't fight crap like this and stop bowing down to such injustices and intrusions, we will ALL lose our constitutional rights. 

SHAME on those of you who bowed down to this. (Yellow-bellied Cowards!)
You are part of the reason why American's diminishing rights are being trampled.
You let them get away with this, without a fight.
You deserve what you got because you did not fight against this basic constitutional right to travel within our own country.
NOBODY can dictate who you can visit, how long you can visit, when you can visit, or where you can visit.
NOBODY! Unless you let them.
PATRIOTS... fight for our rights, defend our Constitution. 
Remember... our governing institutions work for US. They have no power unless we give it to them... and we can take it away, just as well.

PART 2- Turnpikes & the trip to hell and back

It felt so good to get some sleep and shower. 
Ginny and I both agreed to stop by the company (PRG, Pittsburg, KS) which was "supposed" to building the prototype of my invention, in the morning. It was getting late and we wanted a fresh start before tackling these guys face-to-face. I was spending a lot of money in gas, food, hotels and time, driving there. We wouldn't have made this trip if we could have avoided it. But, PRG had been dinging us around for the last 10 weeks on false promises. We had no choice but to confront this company and the owner. Driving all the way to Pittsburg, Kansas wasn't my idea of a fabulous time, just for fun. 

Okay. We called PRG and set up a time to visit. Mr. Tarrell acted surprised we actually showed up in Pittsburg, but we knew he had called and talked with my husband days before. Maybe, he still couldn't believe Ginny and I ("the two loony gals from Idaho, in his words") would actually drive to Kansas from San Diego, CA. 
(I don't know what this guy's issues were, but he definitely had a lot of them, including being a con artist and manipulator. Oh, he and his outfit are smooth talkers on the phone and look so legit on the internet. BEWARE. This guy's a crook.) 
Anyway, we show up and they are all sitting and waiting for us. The supposed company was located in several offices in a small strip mall behind a bank in town. There was no manufacturing facility, no real machine shop and the "supposed engineer" working on our project was a young guy in, maybe, his early 20's, if that. Ginny and I knew right off the bat that this guy was NOT and engineer. In fact, all but one of the employees were barely out of high school and definitely not engineers. We knew we were in for a confrontation. I had already paid Mr. Tarrell 4K up front, with a contract that he would build and finish my prototype within 6 weeks. By the time we arrived, it was week 10, with no pictures, no weekly communication, no files, and no evidence that anything had been done. 
Ginny was real cool. She mostly hung back and observed everything until the last. She is not somebody anyone wants to mess around with, and Mr. Tarrell had no idea what was in store for him within the next few days. She assessed the employees, the offices, the "facility", the unspoken attitudes, and mostly Mr. Tarrell's deceptive, cordial niceness, to my face. He didn't fool either of us, but Ginny was getting angrier by the minute.
After Mr. Tarrell gave us his grand tour and did his gracious introductions, we focused on the piece of unfinished "crap" he claimed his "engineer" worked so hard on. It was like he was boasting on how wonderful this thing was turning out. He had been telling us for weeks it was almost done, yet, these things take time. (My project was not a difficult item to produce. I just didn't have a shop and tools.) All that stood before us was a crap frame, held together with a thin wire to hold the ribs up. Trust me, it was far from finished and looked like they spent the night throwing it together because they learned we were in town. We told Mr. Tarrell our project was not satisfactory and he had two days to complete it. We had a Bridal Expo the next week and we were not leaving without our prototype ready for showing. I remained polite, but insistent. Ginny held her tongue and remained observant. We haggled over the project the following day and ended up taking a substandard, unfinished, non-functional prototype back with us, but not without Ginny's grand-finally of fireworks towards Mr. Tarrell. 
On the last day, we arrived to pick up our prototype. Mr. Tarrell wanted the last amount due, of 5K agreement to be paid before releasing our prototype. Ginny had informed me ahead of time that she would not let this guy treat us like idiots and would "let him have it" if this prototype wasn't done right. I told her to "have at it" with all that he had coming. When he took us into his office to discuss the payment, Ginny took her aim and let her mind fire off exactly what she had observed, thought, and more. Mr. Tarrell got mad and started shouting at her and told her to leave. I'm sure he thought that would intimidate her, but he only infuriated her more and she really went ballistic on him! I told Mr. Tarrell that Ginny was not leaving the room and was part of this project all along. Ginny and Mr. Tarrell continued to scream at each other and all the offices, I'm sure, heard every word. As Ginny stood up, leaving her chair and lunging towards Mr. Tarrell, I held my arm out against Ginny and told her firmly to sit down. Mr. Tarrell's eyes were watering and he was literally shaking. He tried to gather his composure and was obviously really shaken to realize we knew he had been lying to us all along. You could see him sweat where he stood and could see that he was shaken to have us call him out on his lies and effort to con us out of my money for a project he did not provide as contracted. We "had" him and he knew it. Ginny forced him to admit that he had lied to us all along. It took her demanding admission several times, but he finally admitted it. He tried to cover his lies with excuses, but none were credible. He left to get some pieces to show Ginny what he would do to fix things, and swore that he was an engineer, even though his employees were not. 
Ginny, still fired up, continued to tell me how mad she was and how she felt about Mr. Tarrell. I couldn't help it, but I started laughing. We both started laughing at how he was reduced to shaking. We both thought he was going to start crying when Ginny got up out of her chair.  When Mr. Tarrell returned to the room, he knelt down in front of her and tried showing her how the parts would work if he was given the chance to make some new ones and mail them within a day or two. It looked so funny to see this grown man kneeling before Ginny, begging for another chance. 
We finally settled on $500 and he promised to send new, working, pivot parts for the prototype by mail within 3 days, in time for us to reconstruct the prototype for the Bridal show. We took our piece of "crap" prototype, which had to be disassembled because it didn't collapse flat (as the pivots didn't work) and left Pittsburg, Kansas. That is one hell-hole I will never, ever, return to. But, we did learn a huge lesson, here. If you need something done.....DO IT YOURSELF and save grief, time, and a lot of money. 

Next: PART 3 - The trip back home

TURNPIKES...I'D SEEN THEM IN THE MOVIES, but...OMG!

Here is an event, which was a real learning experience for me:

 I travel a lot, lately, with my new invention, tradeshows, etc. But, I had always stayed in the West. We have what we call FREEWAYS for traveling from place to place. And, they really are FREE! You don't pay any money to use these highways to get where you need to go. A few weeks ago, I needed to travel to Kansas from San Diego. I knew it would be a very long week ahead, and one of my daughters, Ginny, traveled with me on this business trip. (Keep in mind, she had never been East, either.) So, here's two very "Western" ladies traveling East to Kansas, expecting the smoothest part of this excursion to be the driving.

Originally, we had decided to take Ginny's Malibu (MISTAKE #1) because the ride would be more comfortable and her trunk was big enough to pick up our prototype from the company in Kansas. Ginny can't drive a stick shift, like my 4x4 S-10 Chevy Blazer, so we could switch turns driving by taking her Malibu, too. So, we headed East from Alpine, (San Diego area) at around 1:30 p.m., towards the desert on the Freeway. Everything seems to be going fine. It's really hot outside, with temperatures in the lower 100's. The Malibu's airconditioning works great. We're climbing the mountains with ease. THEN... I don't think we got more than 20 miles up the freeway before Ginny's car started sounding a buzzer. She didn't know what it was, so  I looked over and noticed that her temperature gauge was pegging in the RED HOT zone. (Crap) I yelled "Pull over, NOW, Ginny. You're overheated, big time!." She was passing a semi at that moment, which caused us to just miss an off ramp with a gas station. When she stopped, we could see the off ramp right next to us. So, now were pulled over on the shoulder, with a very hot engine. After an hour, and several attempts to try to get to the next off ramp, two miles up the freeway, it became apparent that there was really something wrong with the Malibu's engine. A highway patrol officer stopped and gave us a push to the nearest off ramp. I called my husband and told him to bring antifreeze, more water, and my rig to our location, so we could switch out vehicles and proceed with this trip. We waited another hour, thinking my husband would show up at any moment. I swear, it must have been over 110° that day, and it was nearly 3 p.m. now. We were hot and getting anxious.

My husband finally calls my cell and asks "Where are you guys? I can't find you." I asked where he was, and he told me he just saw a sign which said "To Beaches." ... BEACHES! WHAT!? I couldn't believe it! I told him we were headed to the DESERT! Why was he heading WEST to the BEACHES?!!!! Kansas is EAST. Why would we travel to the beaches to reach Kansas?

So now he had to turn around, and back-track an hour before finally reaching our stranded location. When he arrived, we switched out the vehicles. He seemed optimistic that he'd get the Malibu home okay, and urged us to get started, as it was getting late. So, we didn't really get started on our trip til 5 p.m. or later.

Driving my rig meant that I would have to do ALL the driving, now, because Ginny can't drive a stick shift. But, that was okay. I drive a lot and actually like long trips. And, I know my rig will make the trip just fine.

We conquered the rest of the mountains and through California's desert, made Phoenix by 10 p.m., crossed Arizona, and stopped in Gallup, New Mexico just before sun up, to rest a few hours. Our goal was to reach Albuquerque. We were just an hour shy of it, but I had to stop. We started again just before noon, and loved the New Mexico landscape. Nearing Texas, we hit a bit of weather with fierce winds and sheets of heavy rain. We had to slow to a crawl on the freeway because the rain was so hard we couldn't see. Ginny was beginning to fear tornadoes as we entered Texas. I didn't think that was a concern, but you can never tell with nature. We crossed Texas and into Oklahoma.

Ugh! By now the humidity was probably 95% and we were miserable if we turned off the air conditioning, or had to stop for gas. Half way through Oklahoma it was getting dark. Ginny noticed my hair looked like I had stuck my finger in a live socket. She had never seen my hair that frizzy before and was laughing hysterically at my hair. I was so miserable with the rain and humidity that I didn't care what I looked like. (Later, when I saw it myself, in a mirror, I had to laugh, too. It was pretty funny.)

We came to a spot where we had to get on a Toll road, or a type of Turnpike road. This is where neither of us had any idea of how those things work. We had seen them in movies and knew we were going to have to pay to use them. But, HOW to pay, WHEN to pay, and WHY pay so often, made absolutely no sense to us at all. It was late, dark, and raining. I entered the first Toll booth. Nobody was there! I fumbled for change, because I had no idea of how much was needed. Ginny saw a sign which said the toll for two axle was $1.15. We scraped up enough change to match that, threw it in this cage-like basket and we got a green light to go. Okay, that wasn't so bad. About 2 miles down the road, another "Stop and pay toll." (WHAT? AGAIN?) We had about 180 miles to travel on this thing and if every 2 miles we had to pay toll, well, that would be EXPENSIVE! Ginny noticed a sign before the toll booth which had two lanes on the left side, passing the toll booth, for "Pike pass" subscribers, only. She suggested I move to those lanes if we come upon another toll booth. I argued, I knew I wasn't a Pike Pass subscriber and that I couldn't do that. She insisted that it was crazy to pay all these tolls and it would cost a mini fortune to use the toll roads. I didn't know how to get around them, and I didn't want to chance getting lost in the middle of the night. (For all I knew, we could end up in some dinky little town with no open gas station. Or worse, end up on the side of the road, out of gas, in the middle of nowhere.) We decided I needed to get off the next exit, gas up and get lots of change to pay all the expected tolls. Ginny was very irritated by now and we both realized how fortunate we were to have FREEWAYS in the West. As I approached the next exit...yup, another "Pay toll." We paid the amount stated on the sign, again, got off, gassed up, got tons of change, and headed back onto the turnpike. And again, "Pay Toll." Paid again, got on, got lost, had to turn around, PAY TOLL again to get off, turned around,PAID TOLL again to get on. We traveled about 10 miles and hit another "Pay Toll," paid again, then missed an exit to another connecting turnpike, took the next off ramp, Paid Toll, turned around, Paid Toll again, to get back on, took the right exit, Paid Toll again, and spent the entire night doing this. We had never been more upset, tired, and disgusted with anything more awful than this TOLL experience during our little excursion to this point. (except, maybe the humidity and weather.) We finally made it to Kansas by sunrise. We were rejoicing to get rid of that TOLL crap, but knew we had to face it again on our way back to the West. We made it to our Kansas destination by mid morning, checked into a hotel and simply "crashed."

PART TWO, to be posted next....    

My newest piece of art

Here is my newest piece of artwork, done in color pencil on charcoal paper. The pets are my daughter's two Italian Greyhounds, Flash and Jetta. I did this for my son-in-law's first Father's Day gift. I think he liked it, alright.

Where am ... why did ... er, HUH?

I really don't know why I decided to create this blog. I guess I thought it might be something I could do when am confused or bored. We'll see how this goes. I think this could be interesting for me, and maybe for anyone who stumbles upon my wilderness, here. If you happen to come across me, go ahead and post something. I can't guarantee you will be able to follow me, much. I'm a bit like one of those "off the wall" sort, so careful, now. One could get lost in here. For now, I guess I could post a list of things I love. It might give you an idea of my realm, though, not in any order:

• Black coffee, fully leaded
• Painting: landscapes, portraits, color pencil, acrylics, pastels, whatever
• iGeek (Mac): web design, illustration, graphics, animations, videos, etc.
• Backcountry packin', hiking, fishing, 4-wheeling offroad, wild west
• Peach pie with vanilla ice cream
• Taking things apart to see how they work
• Inventing stuff: my newest is the Chaboose™ (hasn't hit the market yet)
• Animals; most all of 'em
• Hunting, target shooting
• Gardening (though I don't stay in one spot long enough, anymore)
• Reading my Bible and Biblical history, commentaries, learning
• Maps, geography, topography, USGS
• Writing, listening and telling good stories
• Grilled cheese sandwiches
• Highway driving, traveling
• GOD and Country
• Kids 
• Antiques and coin collecting

 You could probably pick any one of these and start a discussion. If you have any questions, go ahead and ask. I'll respond the next time I'm on. God Bless and have some fun, today.