Calif. law will guard privacy of tollway users

SACRAMENTO, Calif.

California drivers who use FasTrak or other automatic systems to pay tolls will enjoy increased privacy under a bill approved by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The measure signed into law Wednesday will prohibit transportation agencies from selling or sharing a driver's personal data. Agencies will also have to purge the information when it's no longer needed for billing or law enforcement purposes.

SB1268 also sets a minimum fine of $2,500 for violators.

The author of the legislation, Democratic Sen. Joe Simitian of Palo Alto, said government agencies have no reason to track drivers' movements or store that information indefinitely.