8th Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Many License Lookup Cases

MINNEAPOLIS -- The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed lower court rulings to dismiss several cases that alleged law officers and city officials improperly searched individuals' driver's license data.

However, there were a few cases in which some lookups could be seen as suspicious. Those were sent back to the district court for further proceedings.

In recent years, several people have sued municipalities, police departments and officials statewide over hundreds of license data lookups. The lawsuits alleged that officials violated the driver's privacy data protection act by accessing personal information without a permissible purpose.

Had they not been dismissed, the lawsuits could have cost cities and counties millions of dollars.

The 8th Circuit affirmed several dismissals Thursday, sending just four cases back for more proceedings against a handful of cities.