GM Adds $2.6 Million to South Dakota Consumer Fund
The settlement resolves allegations that the automaker sold driver location data to brokers who used it to set insurance rates.
By Grace Sullivan ·
South Dakota residents will see a $2.6 million increase in their state's Consumer Protection Fund following a new settlement with General Motors. Attorney General Marty Jackley announced the agreement in a press release on Friday, confirming that the money will flow directly into the state's litigation and investigation accounts. The funds are designated to cover the costs of future consumer protection efforts and current legal proceedings.
The settlement addresses specific claims regarding how General Motors handled private driver information. According to the release, the company collected data on driver behavior and location. General Motors then sold that information to third-party data brokers. These brokers, in turn, sold the data to insurance companies. The document states that insurers used the purchased data in part to determine individual insurance rates.
Jackley described the agreement as a resolution to the state's allegations. The Consumer Protection Fund will now hold the additional capital to support the office's work. The money will pay for the expenses associated with investigating similar cases and litigating consumer disputes. This addition to the fund is a direct result of the company's agreement to settle the claims.
In other local news, a man died in a single-vehicle crash on Friday in Rapid City. The driver of a 2026 Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle was traveling eastbound on Sheridan Lake Road in Pennington County. Preliminary information indicates the rider failed to negotiate a curve and entered the north ditch. The driver separated from the motorcycle and sustained fatal injuries. Authorities have not released names pending notification of family members.
Fire officials in Rapid City issued a reminder about burn pile permits, which became available on November 1. The agency noted that residents must observe snow coverage before lighting a fire. Small piles require two inches of snow on the ground, while piles larger than 6 feet by 6 feet require six inches. Permits will be available through March 31, weather permitting. Applications are posted at wildlandfire.sd.gov.
Drivers on Jackson Boulevard in Rapid City should expect delays starting Monday. SDN Communications is conducting directional boring on a multi-block segment of the road. The westbound outside lane will be closed between West Main Street and Mountain View Road. The project is estimated to be completed by November 13. Additionally, eastbound Interstate 90 will close nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Thursday near Piedmont. This closure is for the installation of girders for a new overpass bridge at exit 46. Eastbound traffic will be detoured via Sturgis Road and Stagestop Road, rejoining the interstate at exit 48. The overall project is scheduled for completion in December 2028.
The Rapid City Public Library Board of Trustees named Sean Minkel as interim director. Minkel has worked for the library for nearly 18 years. He has served as assistant director since 2015 and previously worked as a customer and technology services librarian from 2008 to 2015. He has guided day-to-day operations since the departure of former director Terri Davis in late September.
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