Overview
Your personal driving and motor vehicle information, such as your Alberta driver’s licence information, identification card information, driving record, and vehicle registration details, is carefully controlled and subject to strict requirements. The Government of Alberta’s Registrar of Motor Vehicles (the “Registrar”) collects, uses and releases this information only as allowed by legislation and policy.
Personal driving and motor vehicle information is not publicly available. Access is limited to authorized recipients, including law enforcement agencies and approved government programs who require the information (for example, first name, last name, physical address, mailing address, etc) for authorized purposes. This means recipients must meet specific requirements before access is granted.
Authority to collect and use personal driving and motor vehicle information
The Operator, Licensing and Vehicle Control Regulation (OLVCR) under the Traffic Safety Act (TSA) authorizes the Registrar to collect and use personal driving and motor vehicle information, as needed, to perform the Registrar’s duties under the TSA and associated regulations.
The Access to Motor Vehicle Information Regulation, (AMVIR), is the regulation under the TSA that governs the release of personal driving and motor vehicle information held by the Registrar. Access is limited and purpose-based.
Requirements for information access
Before personal driving and motor vehicle information is released to a recipient, there must be an agreement with the Registrar.
Recipients:
- may only request personal driving and motor vehicle information for an authorized purpose
- may only use it for the originally stated purpose,
- must protect it while it is in their possession
When requirements are not met, the Registrar takes action, including the review, restriction, suspension, or revocation of access, as appropriate.
Oversight and monitoring
Protecting Albertans’ personal driving and motor vehicle information requires ongoing oversight. Recipients that receive access to information under AMVIR are required to meet applicable privacy, security, and program requirements, as set out in the agreements they sign with the Registrar. The Registrar monitors compliance with AMVIR requirements to ensure personal driving and motor vehicle information is accessed, used and disclosed only for authorized purposes.
Monitoring activities may include:
- reviewing compliance with terms of the AMVIR agreement
- assessing adherence to program requirements
- responding to concerns regarding the use of information.
Monitoring and oversight helps identify potential issues, and ensures recipient accountability and appropriate action can be taken when requirements are not met. These measures help protect Albertans’ personal driving and motor vehicle information.
Decision notification
AMVIR requires the Registrar to publish a Registrar’s Decision Notification (RDN) when the Registrar is contemplating a new release of personal driving and motor vehicle information. These notices notify the public about:
- the categories of information to be released
- the channels or method of release
- descriptions of any new motor vehicle information products that will be used to release information
- the persons to whom the information will be released
- requirements respecting information that may be released for the purposes referred to in section 2(1)(d) and (m) of AMVIR.
After publication, there is a 60-day period during which a person may ask the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner to review the decision.
The Registrar or anyone acting on the behalf of the Registrar with access to personal driving and motor vehicle information must read the AMVIR employee code of conduct and complete the required acknowledgment form. Organizations must keep those signed forms for audit purposes.
Registry agents’ accountability
Registry agents play an important role in delivering registry services to Albertans. When handling personal driving and motor vehicle information, registry agents are required to follow legislative, privacy, security and operational requirements designed to protect information.
These measures establish clear expectations for the appropriate handling of information and ensure registry agent accountability. Where requirements are not met, compliance and accountability actions are taken to help protect Albertans’ information.
Identity checks help protect records
When a person asks for their own personal driving and motor vehicle information, identity verification helps ensure the record is released to the right person.
Privacy protection
Privacy protection is supported through monitoring, audits and complaint handling. The Registrar monitors releases of personal driving and motor vehicle information, manages a monitoring program, receives and manages privacy complaints, and can suspend or terminate access when requirements are not met. If personal driving or motor vehicle information is breached, the Registrar investigates, may require action from the organization involved, and may decide to notify affected individuals depending on the circumstances.
Privacy concerns
If you have concerns about how your personal driving and motor vehicle information has been handled, you can raise those concerns with the Registrar.