Indiana county to make money off of bad drivers

CROWN POINT, Ind. - A northwest Indiana county has agreed to sell court records to a data-mining company that plans to supply them to insurers who will use them to raise rates for bad drivers.

The Times of Munster reports the Lake County Board of Commissioners approved the agreement Wednesday with Driver's History Information of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It becomes the third private company authorized to extract bulk data from the county's court database.

Executive Director Mark Pearman of the county's information technology department says the State Court Administrator must approve any private firm wishing to extract data from Indiana courts. It also needs approval from local judges and county officials.

Chief Lake Superior Court Judge John Pera says he is satisfied the Driver's History agreement conforms with state law.