Title 18Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§2725 Definitions

Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 123— - PROHIBITION ON RELEASE AND USE OF CERTAIN PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM STATE MOTOR VEHICLE RECORDS › § 2725

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines key words used in the chapter. Motor vehicle record: records about a driver’s permit, a vehicle title, a vehicle registration, or an ID card from a department of motor vehicles. Person: an individual, organization, or other entity, but not a State or its agencies. Personal information: data that identifies someone, like photo, Social Security number, driver ID number, name, address (but not the 5-digit ZIP code), phone number, and medical or disability information; it does not include accident reports, driving violations, or driver status. Highly restricted personal information: a person’s photo or image, Social Security number, or medical/disability records. Express consent: written permission, including electronic consent with an electronic signature as defined in section 106(5) of Public Law 106-229.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §2725

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this chapter—
(1)“motor vehicle record” means any record that pertains to a motor vehicle operator’s permit, motor vehicle title, motor vehicle registration, or identification card issued by a department of motor vehicles;
(2)“person” means an individual, organization or entity, but does not include a State or agency thereof;
(3)“personal information” means information that identifies an individual, including an individual’s photograph, social security number, driver identification number, name, address (but not the 5-digit zip code), telephone number, and medical or disability information, but does not include information on vehicular accidents, driving violations, and driver’s status.11 So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.
(4)“highly restricted personal information” means an individual’s photograph or image, social security number, medical or disability information; and
(5)“express consent” means consent in writing, including consent conveyed electronically that bears an electronic signature as defined in section 106(5) of Public Law 106–229.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 106(5) of Public Law 106–229, referred to in par. (5), is classified to section 7006(5) of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.

Amendments

2000—Pars. (4), (5). Pub. L. 106–346 added pars. (4) and (5).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective on the date that is 3 years after Sept. 13, 1994, with provisions relating to release of personal information before the

Effective Date

and compliance after such date, see section 300003 of Pub. L. 103–322, set out as a note under section 2721 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 2725

Title 18Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73