Questions raised about misusing confidential databases

A report by the Associated Press found hundreds of instances of misuse of databases used to store drivers’ private information.

The report details that between 2013 and 2015, more than 325 officers were suspended, fired or resigned because of misusing databases while more than 250 were reprimanded.

NBC2 previously exposed abuse of the D.A.V.I.D. system in Florida. Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Anthony Esposito was eventually fired after looking up more than 100 women on the database and even stopping some of them.

Then just last week, one Charlotte County deputy was fired and another disciplined for misusing the system.

Some drivers we spoke with find the abuse alarming.

“That’s very disconcerting, I mean that’s my private information,” said Tina Marie.

However, local law enforcement agencies have taken steps to catch bad actors misusing the database.

“In regards to our agency position on unauthorized use, it’s not tolerated, our members are only authorized to access D.A.V.I.D. in line with official use only per the Driver Privacy Protection Act, State Statute 119.10 and 775.083 and agency policy regarding access to confidential information. If a violation occurs, that member will be held accountable for their action,” FHP spokesperson Captain Jeffrey Bissainthe said in a statement.

Law enforcement agencies using the D.A.V.I.D. system are now required to perform audits more frequently of how and when the system is being used. In addition, any users of the database are required to write the reason they are looking up information.

Authorized users of the D.A.V.I.D. system also sign a “Criminal Sanctions Acknowledgment” notifying them it’s a first-degree misdemeanor to misuse the system.

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