(a) The commissioner or the commissioner's duly authorized county tag agent shall file each application received and, when satisfied as to its genuineness and regularity and that the applicant is entitled to the issuance of a certificate of title, shall issue a certificate of title of the vehicle.

(b) The commissioner or the commissioner's duly authorized county tag agent shall maintain a record of all certificates of title issued:

(1) Under a distinctive title number assigned to the vehicle;

(2) Under the identifying number of the vehicle;

(3) Alphabetically, under the name of the owner;

(4) Under the vehicle tag registration number; and

(5) In the discretion of the commissioner, in any other method the commissioner determines.

(c) The commissioner or the commissioner's duly authorized county tag agent is authorized and empowered to provide for photographic and photostatic recording of certificate of title records in such manner as the commissioner or the commissioner's duly authorized county tag agent may deem expedient. The photographic or photostatic copies authorized in this subsection shall be sufficient as evidence in tracing of titles of the motor vehicles designated therein and shall also be admitted in evidence in all actions and proceedings to the same extent that the originals would have been admitted.

(d) The motor vehicle records which the commissioner or the commissioner's duly authorized county tag agent is required to maintain under this Code section or any other provision are exempt from the provisions of any law of this state requiring that such records be open for public inspection; provided, however, that the records of any particular motor vehicle may be available for inspection by the following:

(1) Any law enforcement officer for official law enforcement investigations as certified by the commanding officer of the law enforcement agency making such request;

(2) The owner of the vehicle. When the title or registration records of the department have not been changed to reflect a new owner of the vehicle, proof of proprietary interest must be submitted prior to release of the information;

(3) Any judgment creditor of the owner of the vehicle upon the presentation of a fi. fa.;

(4) Any individual or an authorized agent or representative of such individual involved in a motor vehicle accident either as an operator of a motor vehicle, a passenger in a motor vehicle, or a pedestrian;

(5) Any licensed dealer of new or used motor vehicles; (6) Any person for the purposes of a manufacturer's recall; and

(7) Any tax collector, tax receiver, or tax commissioner.

(d.1) In addition to any public inspection of records authorized under subsection (d) of this Code section:

(1) Motor vehicle records consisting of vehicle description, title status, title brands, last recorded mileage, recorded liens, or recorded security interests which the commissioner or the commissioner's duly authorized county tag agent is required to maintain under this Code section shall, in such manner and under such conditions as prescribed by the commissioner, be furnished individually or in bulk to any person upon payment of a reasonable fee, for any purpose not otherwise prohibited by law, including without limitation for the purpose of providing information to allow for informed motor vehicle purchase and safety decisions. Records furnished in accordance with this paragraph may be subsequently transferred to third parties. Personal information of any registrant, including name, address, date of birth, or driver's license or social security number, shall not be furnished or transferred by or to any person pursuant to this paragraph; and

(2) The commissioner may in his or her discretion publish or permit to be published statistical reports from records maintained under this Code section, provided that such reports shall not disclose any natural person's name, address, date of birth, or driver's license or social security number.

(e) The commissioner may, if necessary, promulgate reasonable rules and regulations outlining additional circumstances under which such records shall be open for public inspection.