Pallone Calls On U.S. Attorney General to Investigate Misuse of E-ZPass Data by Port Authority Officials

Press Release

Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder requesting that the U.S. Department of Justice conduct an independent review to determine whether E-ZPass data of New Jersey drivers was repeatedly accessed by officials at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) without proper authority and, potentially, for political purposes. In the letter, Pallone made clear that any such actions violate New Jersey law and that, since New Jersey's Attorney General is appointed by Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) and has not announced any plans to investigate these allegations, an independent review was necessary at this time.

"It is our duty as public servants to protect the public trust," Pallone said in the letter. "These incidents seem to demonstrate the exact opposite, showing a remarkable abuse of power and violation of privacy."

New Jersey law states that toll records may not be released to any person, including a government agency, without a subpoena or a court order. However, in an April 2012 Senate hearing, PANYNJ Deputy Executive Director William Baroni repeatedly referenced the personal E-ZPass data of the late Senator Frank Lautenberg. Lautenberg's private travel records were then referred to once again at a press conference held by Governor Christie. Recently, Mr. Baroni, appearing before the state legislature, also referenced detailed travel information of New Jersey drivers obtained through a review of E-ZPass records.

"The use of this data seems to go well beyond any overarching general use of statistical data for analytical purposes, and rather seems to be specific examination of the E-ZPass usage of individual drivers," Pallone stated.

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