Capt. Scott White, Public Information and Education Division of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, has announced the patrol will no longer provide the names of those involved in injury accidents or boating accidents in its preliminary online reports, including fatalities and drownings, because of privacy concerns. The change started at 3 p.m. on Friday and was applied retroactively to all published reports to date.
"The patrol was recently notified of scam incidents across the state targeting motor vehicle crash victims and/or individuals associated with someone who was involved in a crash," White said, in an email sent to news media outlets including the Quill. "These suspects may have used information obtained via public databases, including the patrol’s online reports to sound credible.”
The patrol conducts periodic review of all policies, procedures and general orders. As a result, names of those involved in motor vehicle crashes, boating incidents and drownings will no longer be included in the agency’s preliminary online reporting, White said. The gender, age, injury type, city, state and other information will continue to be posted and he cited advancements in technology and social media platforms as a "significant" consideration in the decision.
"The patrol is entrusted with protecting the safety and public interest of those we serve. The public safety benefit of the dissemination of information that identifies a traffic/boating crash victim or drowning victim no longer outweighs the risks when the names are disseminated," he added. "Importantly, all parties who have a legal right to access such information are readily able to do so through the Missouri State Highway Patrol Public Records Center. This decision is further consistent with the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, 18 U.S.C. § 2721." In accordance with Missouri state statute, White continued, the procedure for posting preliminary information related to arrests performed by the patrol will not change.
