The U.S. Justice Department is jumping into a quirky court fight about whether Jacksonville police can be sued for looking up driver license information without valid investigatory reasons.

A Florida Highway Patrol trooper, Donna Jane Watts, sued the city and two officers last year, saying police used a state database to find information about her after she arrested a Miami officer following a 120-mph chase.

Watts, who reported being harassed by officers from across the state, argued using the database for personal reasons violated the federal Drivers Privacy Protection Act, which limits access to private data.

The suit claimed Jacksonville officers Brijin Pemberton and Pamela Abboud were among roughly 90 police statewide who searched for her address in a database meant to be used only for investigations.

City attorneys answered in September that the law Watts sued under was unconstitutional, so police should be able to look up her information even if it's not for an investigation.

The Supreme Court ruled earlier that the privacy-protection law was rooted in power Congress has to regulate commerce, and the city argued that wasn't a proper basis for Watts' lawsuit if police weren't selling her license information.

Trying to do so, the city argued, "interferes with the core sovereignty of the state," and violates another part of the Constitution, the 10th amendment that limits the power available to Congress.

Not so fast, Justice attorneys responded, filing papers last week that they would be disputing the city's argument.

U.S. Magistrate Monte Richardson gave Justice until Wednesday to file a memo making its argument.

Steve Patterson: (904) 359-4263