Park Happy Sued For Allegedly Using Illegal Tactics To Target Drivers

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims Park Happy violated the Driver's Privacy Protection Act by illegally accessing driver data to issue parking citations.

Consumers Affected: Individuals whose personal information was illegally accessed by Park Happy.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee

Park Happy, a Tennessee-based parking company, is under fire for allegedly violating federal law by unlawfully accessing drivers’ personal information to mail parking citations. A new lawsuit claims the company flouted the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA) by using motor vehicle records to issue penalties disguised as official tickets.

The lawsuit, filed by Tennessee resident Nicholas Simpson, accuses Park Happy of turning personal data into a moneymaking scheme, charging drivers up to ten times their original parking fees.

Park Happy Accused of Illegally Accessing Driver Data to Issue Parking Citations

Simpson says in the lawsuit that he parked his motorcycle at a Park Happy lot in Nashville in November 2023 and left believing all fees were paid. Two months later, he received a $91 violation notice in the mail, despite never providing the company with his name or address.

The notice, which included a photo of Simpson’s license plate, demanded immediate payment or proof disputing the debt. The lawsuit alleges that Park Happy obtained Simpson’s personal details by illegally accessing state DMV records without his consent, violating his right to privacy and causing him emotional distress.

Lawsuit Alleges Park Happy Violated the Driver's Privacy Protection Act (DPPA)

Park Happy’s business model centers on its use of license plate recognition technology. Cameras at its facilities capture plate numbers, which the company then uses to track down vehicle owners. Instead of adhering to federal laws requiring written consent for accessing personal information, the lawsuit claims the company accessed DMV databases without authorization.

The Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, enacted in 1994, was designed to prevent such practices, the lawsuit explains. It mandates that personal information from motor vehicle records—such as names, addresses, and license details—can only be accessed for legitimate, permissible purposes. Park Happy allegedly ignored these protections, leveraging the data to mail parking citations and pressure drivers into paying fees.

Other Parking Companies Face Similar Lawsuits Over Data Misuse

Park Happy isn’t alone in being accused of misusing personal data. In October 2024, Chicago-based Peoples Auto Parking was sued for similar allegations, with plaintiffs claiming the company used license plate recognition to access DMV records and send unauthorized parking citations.

Likewise, Florida-based Parking Revenue Recovery faced a class action lawsuit in August 2024 for allegedly obtaining personal information without consent. Even data giant LexisNexis settled a $5 million DPPA lawsuit in 2020 after being accused of selling DMV data to law firms for commercial use.

In his lawsuit, Simpson wants to represent anyone whose personal information Park Happy illegally obtained in violation of the DPPA to mail them a violation. He is suing for violation of Drivers Privacy Protection Act and seeks statutory damages under the DPPA in the amount of $2,500, attorney’s fees and costs, and injunctive relief.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Simpson v. Park Happy, LLC
• Case Number: 3:25-cv-00049 
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee 

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• R. Scott Pietrowski, David J. DiSabato, and Lisa R. Considine (Siri and Glimstad)

Have you received a parking citation from Park Happy? Share your experience in the comments below.