An Act Concerning The Maintenance Of Records Collected By License Plate Readers.
Impact
If enacted, HB 05716 will directly affect the practices related to data collection and retention in law enforcement and public agencies. It places stringent limits on the time frame within which license plate data can be stored, potentially reducing the risk of misuse of such data by governmental bodies. This change is seen as an effort to balance the aggressiveness of surveillance technology used by law enforcement with the civil liberties of individuals. Stakeholders will need to adapt their protocols for monitoring and storing data accordingly.
Summary
House Bill 05716 proposes to amend existing statutes concerning the maintenance of records collected by license plate readers. The primary provision of this bill is to prohibit the state, any political subdivisions, or contractors that receive state funding from retaining data gathered by license plate readers for longer than seventy-two hours. The exceptions to this rule include circumstances where a record indicates a vehicle matches an alert on a list of vehicles of interest or is needed as part of a warrant or court order. By restricting the duration of data retention, the bill aims to bolster the protection of personal privacy.
Contention
While the bill is primarily framed as a privacy protection measure, it could generate contention among law enforcement agencies concerned about the impacts on public safety and their operational capabilities. Some may argue that the short retention period will hinder investigations and intelligence-gathering efforts related to criminal activities. On the other hand, privacy advocates will likely support the bill, arguing that it is necessary to protect citizens from unwarranted surveillance and to ensure that personal information is not retained indefinitely without just cause.