TL/DR –
Salt Lake City Council in Utah is looking to regulate the use of automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) which log vehicle plates into a database. Council Chair Alejandro Puy is working on a new draft ordinance to balance the operational benefits of ALPR technology with privacy, civil liberties, and constitutional rights. The draft proposes that law enforcement agencies must provide a case number to justify their use of ALPRs, and also includes provisions for quarterly audits of the Salt Lake City Police Department and annual audits of other government agencies requesting data, with misuse punishable by criminal charges.
Salt Lake City Seeks Regulation of Automatic License Plate Readers
Utah streets are lined with automatic license plate readers (ALPR) that capture and document vehicle plates. The Salt Lake City Council is now seeking to regulate this technology.
Used by law enforcement to trace vehicles linked to crimes, these cameras have become more prominent recently with agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement employing them for immigration enforcement.
Council Chair Alejandro Puy developed a new draft ordinance to address public concerns and misuse of this technology. Puy aims to balance the benefits of ALPR with the need to respect privacy, civil rights, and constitutional liberties.
Puy’s key provision would necessitate a case number from law enforcement agencies, ensuring ALPR usage is linked to a criminal case. This could curb misuse, like tracking undocumented immigrants involved in only civil cases.
While supporters highlight its usefulness in solving crimes quickly, critics view it as a potential tool for privacy invasion, citing instances where officers in Georgia allegedly misused the technology.
In response to privacy concerns, Salt Lake City halted ALPR expansion last December. Puy believes that with over 300 readers in Salt Lake County, emphasis should now be on safeguards for appropriate use.
His proposal includes quarterly audits of the Salt Lake City Police Department and annual reviews of other agencies requesting the data. In Utah, misuse can lead to criminal charges.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah opposes ALPR use on privacy and anti-surveillance grounds. However, Legal Director Jason Groth views the new ordinance as a step in the right direction.
Groth suggests improvements, especially concerning how government entities access data from the city. Puy counters that requiring a warrant might over-restrict ALPR use.
The public hearing for the draft ordinance is slated for Sept. 15.
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