GOP Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Restrict Automated License Plate Readers
The proposed legislation aims to limit the use of license plate readers, like Flock cameras, by requiring warrants for most searches and prohibiting the targeting of political or religious messages.
Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., has introduced a bill aimed at addressing privacy concerns surrounding automated license plate readers (ALPRs), including those used by Flock cameras. The legislation, proposed on Thursday, seeks to restrict how these systems can be used by law enforcement and private vendors.
Key provisions of the bill include a ban on ALPR searches that target political or religious messages displayed on vehicles, such as bumper stickers or decals. It would also mandate that law enforcement obtain warrants for most searches of ALPR data, a significant departure from current practices in some jurisdictions. Furthermore, the bill proposes a 24-hour limit for the retention of recorded data, with exceptions for active investigations or court orders, and would prohibit vendors from selling or sharing collected location information.
Harrigan stated that the extensive data collected by these systems, which can track individuals' movements to places of work, school, or worship, raises significant privacy concerns, especially when the individuals have not committed any crimes. "When you consider that these systems track everything that you do, where you work, where your kids go to school, where you even go to church, I think it's pretty easy to understand why people are concerned," Harrigan told Fox News Digital.
The bill's restrictions would apply to all ALPR systems, preventing government agencies from categorizing vehicles based on "expressive attributes." This means messages like "Back the Blue," "Jesus Saves," or "Black Lives Matter" could not be used as searchable data points. The legislation also aims to block ALPR searches related to civil immigration violations, parking infractions, or other civil penalties.
While Flock Safety maintains that its systems can detect bumper stickers but cannot identify their specific content, the bill's proponents argue that the AI-powered search capabilities of such systems raise questions about potential misuse. Harrigan expressed a belief that the bill could gain bipartisan support, emphasizing the government's dual responsibility to protect citizens from crime and uphold constitutional rights.
The proposed legislation would allow individuals to sue for illegal searches, seeking at least $1,000 per violation, and would permit illegally obtained evidence to be excluded from court proceedings. States that do not implement qualifying protections could face a 10% reduction in certain federal criminal justice funding.
Concerns over the misuse of ALPRs have surfaced previously. A report in August indicated that numerous officers had been accused or charged with misusing license plate readers, with Flock's system reportedly used in 46 such cases, often for personal surveillance of ex-partners or other individuals. Harrigan stressed that his bill is not intended to halt the use of ALPR technology for legitimate investigative purposes but rather to establish clearer boundaries.
"Simultaneously, when we have technology that can benefit humanity and our experience here as Americans and make America safer, we should leverage that. But we have to strike the right balance," he said.