The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Friday it will no longer release the names online of anyone involved in an injury-related or fatal accident in Missouri.
The move was announced Friday morning and was effective at 3 p.m.
The patrol said its decision comes in response to scam incidents in the state targeting motor vehicle crash victims and/or individuals associated with someone who was involved in the crash. The patrol said these suspects may have used information from its online databases to sound credible.
The change will present unique challenges to media outlets that routinely report information to readers about accidents that occur. Those generally include details about how an accident happened and various agencies who helped with the accident. While still available, no names will be included.
Before the internet era, the information was released from each troop in the state.
The new rule also will extend to drownings and boating incidents but not include arrest records, it said.
Persons can request information from the patrol’s public records center.