Regulating Data: License Plate Readers. 3 Concerns. 7 States take action.

In 2007, 17% of police departments were using license plate readers. That number increased rapidly. By 2012, 71% of police departments used license plate readers.

Whats the concern if these help lower crime? The data. Regulations seek to:

• How long the data is kept. Minnesota keeps it for 48 hours. New Jersey keeps it for 5 years.
• How safe is the data
• How much data is collected about law abiding citizens

6 states have limited the use of license plate readers or prohibited the use outright.

• Arkansas, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, Utah and Vermont
• In June 2015, Gov. Jindal vetoed a bill that would have clarified that Lousianna law enforcement may use licnese readers. His veto was based on:
  • fundamental risk to personal privacy
  • that it creates large pools of information belonging to law-abiding citizens
    • “that unfortunately can be extremely vulnerable to theft or misuse.”

Governing