DPS probes possible 'pattern' of police snooping in drivers license database

State officials are asking more than a dozen police departments whether their officers were snooping inappropriately through the Minnesota drivers license database.

A recent complaint by a woman to the Department of Public Safety sparked an audit that raised questions about the access.

DPS spokesman Andy Skoogman said the woman suspected police were inappropriately looking at her file, which includes a photo.

"Our audit revealed a pattern that this individual's drivers license data may have been accessed more often than usual," he said. "We sent a letter to 18 different law enforcement agencies in Minnesota."

Emphasizing that the letter does not accuse anyone of misconduct," Skoogman said it "requests that the agencies look into the matter to determine whether the access was appropriate and used in an investigative capacity."

Skoogman said that the department is also reminding law enforcement agencies around the state about the appropriate use of license data by police personnel.

He would not identify the woman or discuss how the matter came to her attention.