Virginia § 59.1-443.3 - Scanning information from driver's license or other document; retention, sale, or dissemination of information

Full text of Virginia Code of Virginia § 59.1-443.3 — Scanning information from driver's license or other document; retention, sale, or dissemination of information, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 59.1-443.3. Scanning information from driver's license or other document; retention, sale, or dissemination of information

A. No merchant may scan the machine-readable zone of a driver's license or other document issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles under Chapter 3 (§ 46.2-300 et seq.) of Title 46.2 or the comparable law of another jurisdiction, except for the following purposes:

1. To verify authenticity of the driver's license or other document or to verify the identity of the individual if the individual requests a service pursuant to a membership or a service agreement, pays for goods or services with a method other than cash, returns an item, or requests a refund or an exchange;

2. To verify the individual's age when providing age-restricted goods or services to the individual if there is a reasonable doubt of the individual having reached 18 years of age or older;

3. To prevent fraud or other criminal activity if the individual returns an item or requests a refund or an exchange and the merchant uses a fraud prevention service company or system. Information collected by scanning an individual's driver's license or other document pursuant to this subdivision shall be limited to the individual's name, address, and date of birth and the number of the driver's license or other document;

4. To comply with a requirement imposed on the merchant by the laws of the Commonwealth or federal law;

5. To provide to a check services company regulated by the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.), that receives information obtained from an individual's driver's license or other document to administer or enforce a transaction or to prevent fraud or other criminal activity; or

6. To complete a transaction permitted under the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, (15 U.S.C. § 6801 et seq.), or the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.).

B. No merchant shall retain any information obtained from a scan of the machine-readable zone of an individual's driver's license or other document except as permitted in subdivision A 1, 3, 4, 5, or 6. The merchant shall destroy the retained information when the purpose for which it was provided and retained under this section has been satisfied.

C. No merchant shall sell or disseminate to a third party any information obtained from a scan of the machine-readable zone of an individual's driver's license or other document for any marketing, advertising, or promotional purpose. This subsection shall not prohibit a merchant from disseminating to a third party any such information for a purpose described in subdivision A 3, 4, 5, or 6.

D. Any waiver of a provision of this section is contrary to public policy and is void and unenforceable.

2014, cc. 789, 795; 2020, cc. 542, 1227, 1246.

Source: official Virginia text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Virginia § 59.1-443.3

What does Code of Virginia § 59.1-443.3 cover?

Section 59.1-443.3 ("Scanning information from driver's license or other document; retention, sale, or dissemination of information") is part of the Code of Virginia, the codified statutory law of Virginia. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Virginia § 59.1-443.3?

A common citation format is "Code of Virginia § 59.1-443.3" (Virginia). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Virginia law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Virginia official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Virginia attorney.

How does Virginia § 59.1-443.3 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Virginia can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Virginia.