Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

DMV firing upheld in hearing

CARSON CITY -- An employee of the state Department of Motor Vehicles, accused of illegally giving out personal information about motorists, isn't getting her job back.

In a decision released Monday, state hearing officer Pat Dolan ruled there was sufficient evidence to dismiss Melody Thompson from the data entry job she held for 12 years in Carson City.

Thompson was charged with giving out addresses and other personal information to those who called inquiring about license plates. In one case, a prison inmate said he received information from Thompson about another convict.

Dolan found Thompson gave out personal information from motor vehicle registration records to an undercover agent during a telephone conversation.

The department has a policy not to give out personal information over the telephone when callers say they are trying to check license plates.

Thompson also was suspended for three days in 1993 for sending "hate mail" to her former husband and his new girlfriend, using department envelopes. The letters harangued the couple and included derogatory statements.

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