WA bill seeks new rules on use of license plate reading cameras | FOX 13 Seattle

Coma is pushing for new rules on automatic license plate Coma is pushing for new rules on automatic license plate readers, or flock cameras used on automatic license plate readers, or flock cameras used by police agencies across readers, or flock cameras used by police agencies across Washington. Senator Yasmin by police agencies across Washington. Senator Yasmin Trudeau says the technology Washington. Senator Yasmin Trudeau says the technology needs to be regulated to Trudeau says the technology needs to be regulated to protect privacy. needs to be regulated to protect privacy. But one chief of police is protect privacy. But one chief of police is warning this could slow down But one chief of police is warning this could slow down investigations and make solving warning this could slow down investigations and make solving crimes harder. Fox Thirteen’s investigations and make solving crimes harder. Fox Thirteen’s Alejandra Guzman has the story. crimes harder. Fox Thirteen’s Alejandra Guzman has the story. License plate reader cameras, Alejandra Guzman has the story. License plate reader cameras, known as Alpr, operated by a License plate reader cameras, known as Alpr, operated by a company called FLoC, quietly known as Alpr, operated by a company called FLoC, quietly scan thousands of cars every company called FLoC, quietly scan thousands of cars every day across Washington state. scan thousands of cars every day across Washington state. These cameras are being used by day across Washington state. These cameras are being used by police departments to help find These cameras are being used by police departments to help find stolen cars, wanted people, and police departments to help find stolen cars, wanted people, and solve crimes. stolen cars, wanted people, and solve crimes. I’m a big proponent for solve crimes. I’m a big proponent for using technology to resolve I’m a big proponent for using technology to resolve crime and make a difference in using technology to resolve crime and make a difference in the community. This past year, crime and make a difference in the community. This past year, our crime numbers kind of speak the community. This past year, our crime numbers kind of speak for themselves. our crime numbers kind of speak for themselves. But right now, Washington for themselves. But right now, Washington has no law regulating how data But right now, Washington has no law regulating how data is stored, shared or deleted. has no law regulating how data is stored, shared or deleted. In December, the city of is stored, shared or deleted. In December, the city of Olympia suspended all 15 of its In December, the city of Olympia suspended all 15 of its cameras in response to an Olympia suspended all 15 of its cameras in response to an increase in community concerns cameras in response to an increase in community concerns about data collection and increase in community concerns about data collection and privacy. Redmond shut its about data collection and privacy. Redmond shut its system off in early November privacy. Redmond shut its system off in early November after Ice agents arrested seven system off in early November after Ice agents arrested seven people. Three of those arrests after Ice agents arrested seven people. Three of those arrests came less than a mile from people. Three of those arrests came less than a mile from those cameras, and Lynnwood came less than a mile from those cameras, and Lynnwood disabled a vendor feature after those cameras, and Lynnwood disabled a vendor feature after learning it allowed nationwide disabled a vendor feature after learning it allowed nationwide searches. Those concerns learning it allowed nationwide searches. Those concerns sparked bipartisan Bill 6002 by searches. Those concerns sparked bipartisan Bill 6002 by Tacoma Senator Yasmin Trudeau sparked bipartisan Bill 6002 by Tacoma Senator Yasmin Trudeau and Republican Jeff Hawley. Tacoma Senator Yasmin Trudeau and Republican Jeff Hawley. I think we all have a vested and Republican Jeff Hawley. I think we all have a vested interest in protecting our data. I think we all have a vested interest in protecting our data. Senator Trudeau says she interest in protecting our data. Senator Trudeau says she brought in experts to help Senator Trudeau says she brought in experts to help understand the software and brought in experts to help understand the software and help shape regulations. After a understand the software and help shape regulations. After a University of Washington report help shape regulations. After a University of Washington report found agencies were sharing University of Washington report found agencies were sharing license plate data with federal found agencies were sharing license plate data with federal immigration authorities. license plate data with federal immigration authorities. Without formal agreements. immigration authorities. Without formal agreements. There is no evidence that Without formal agreements. There is no evidence that there are backdoor channels to There is no evidence that there are backdoor channels to access this data. And so I there are backdoor channels to access this data. And so I think what it revealed was that access this data. And so I think what it revealed was that we we don’t have any sideboards think what it revealed was that we we don’t have any sideboards right now in that jurisdictions we we don’t have any sideboards right now in that jurisdictions are kind of doing whatever they right now in that jurisdictions are kind of doing whatever they want. are kind of doing whatever they want. The bill would limit how want. The bill would limit how cameras are used, ban The bill would limit how cameras are used, ban immigration enforcement access, cameras are used, ban immigration enforcement access, and require most data to be immigration enforcement access, and require most data to be deleted within 72 hours unless and require most data to be deleted within 72 hours unless it’s tied to an active deleted within 72 hours unless it’s tied to an active investigation. Lakewood’s chief it’s tied to an active investigation. Lakewood’s chief of police Patrick Smith, says investigation. Lakewood’s chief of police Patrick Smith, says flock cameras have been a game of police Patrick Smith, says flock cameras have been a game changer for his department, who flock cameras have been a game changer for his department, who had no homicides in 2025. He changer for his department, who had no homicides in 2025. He says these license plate had no homicides in 2025. He says these license plate readers are helping save lives. says these license plate readers are helping save lives. We were able to save a 15 readers are helping save lives. We were able to save a 15 year old girl from being sex We were able to save a 15 year old girl from being sex trafficked. We were able to year old girl from being sex trafficked. We were able to find this vehicle before it trafficked. We were able to find this vehicle before it entered into Mexico and bring find this vehicle before it entered into Mexico and bring her back safely to her family. entered into Mexico and bring her back safely to her family. Chief Smith says his biggest her back safely to her family. Chief Smith says his biggest concern is the bills multiple Chief Smith says his biggest concern is the bills multiple data deadlines, which range concern is the bills multiple data deadlines, which range from 4 to 72 hours depending on data deadlines, which range from 4 to 72 hours depending on how data is being used. from 4 to 72 hours depending on how data is being used. Specifically, when 72 hours, how data is being used. Specifically, when 72 hours, we may not know if that vehicle Specifically, when 72 hours, we may not know if that vehicle is involved in a crime or not. we may not know if that vehicle is involved in a crime or not. We need time to follow up. Or is involved in a crime or not. We need time to follow up. Or am I so concerned that I don’t We need time to follow up. Or am I so concerned that I don’t want the police to do anything? am I so concerned that I don’t want the police to do anything? I want them to police like it’s want the police to do anything? I want them to police like it’s 1957 versus 2026. I want them to police like it’s 1957 versus 2026. Other police departments 1957 versus 2026. Other police departments like Auburn say they’re Other police departments like Auburn say they’re adjusting, not abandoning the like Auburn say they’re adjusting, not abandoning the technology. In a statement, adjusting, not abandoning the technology. In a statement, they say they use Alpers in technology. In a statement, they say they use Alpers in compliance with state They they say they use Alpers in compliance with state They have policies and training and compliance with state They have policies and training and limit data retention tied to have policies and training and limit data retention tied to investigations. The department limit data retention tied to investigations. The department says it’s aware of the proposed investigations. The department says it’s aware of the proposed legislation and will monitor it says it’s aware of the proposed legislation and will monitor it closely. Policy advocates say legislation and will monitor it closely. Policy advocates say concerns go beyond policy closely. Policy advocates say concerns go beyond policy tweaks. concerns go beyond policy tweaks. I think it should be a wake tweaks. I think it should be a wake up call for all of us as I think it should be a wake up call for all of us as Washingtonians, about the up call for all of us as Washingtonians, about the vulnerability of the technology Washingtonians, about the vulnerability of the technology that is being used to scoop up vulnerability of the technology that is being used to scoop up our data. that is being used to scoop up our data. Senator Trudeau says the our data. Senator Trudeau says the bill is about restoring trust, Senator Trudeau says the bill is about restoring trust, not taking tools away. bill is about restoring trust, not taking tools away. We’re not punishing law not taking tools away. We’re not punishing law enforcement. We are We’re not punishing law enforcement. We are understanding our enforcement. We are understanding our responsibility to protect our understanding our responsibility to protect our people. responsibility to protect our people. Alexandra Guzman, Fox 13 people. Alexandra Guzman, Fox 13 news. Alexandra Guzman, Fox 13 news. The bipartisan bill was just news. The bipartisan bill was just introduced. It’s expected to be The bipartisan bill was just introduced. It’s expected to be heard later this month. Senator introduced. It’s expected to be heard later this month. Senator Trudeau says she spoke with law