Rep. Pat Harrigan’s bill would require probable-cause warrants for most automated license plate reader searches, bar searches tied to political or religious activity, and force most records to be deleted within 24 hours.
The measure targets broad privacy concerns around Flock cameras and similar systems, which can log vehicle locations and searchable characteristics; Harrigan said the technology lets government amass detailed data on people who have committed no crime.
Government agencies would be barred from categorizing vehicles by expressive attributes such as bumper stickers, while vendors could not sell location data or use it to train AI models.
Enforcement would include search logs, annual public reports, audits, a private right to sue for at least $1,000 per violation, and exclusion of illegally obtained evidence.
The proposal follows mounting scrutiny of ALPR misuse: The Washington Post reported in August that at least 50 officers had been accused or charged, including 46 cases involving Flock’s system.
Could a 24-hour data deletion rule for license plate readers inadvertently let dangerous criminals slip through the cracks of modern investigations?
How will courts balance the investigative power of nationwide plate-reading networks against the constitutional right to be free from mass surveillance?
If AI cameras can log your bumper stickers and daily commute, does true driving privacy still exist on public roads today?