Can private citizens look up drivers licenses online?

The only websites that offer search and retrieval of a driver's license, such as PublicData.com, are not accessible for free and won't contain data from every state. A driver's license is private information similar to a credit card or social security number. Finding this information is not easy.

The misconception about easily accessible driver's license information started from a prominent Internet spam-prank. If clicked, the link provided as part of the prank takes the user through a brief series of questions populated with advertisements and solicitation. Upon completing the steps required, the browser displays a picture of a monkey or clown on a mock license.