Calif. Bill To Regulate LPR Fails To Pass
California’s Legislature has once again failed to regulate license-plate cameras despite growing public concern over privacy issues.
For the fifth consecutive year, a bill aiming to strengthen privacy protections and prevent misuse of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) was halted before reaching a floor vote. The bill, which had cleared the state senate, was stopped in the Assembly by Majority Leader Cecilia Aguilar-Curry on Monday, the last day of the legislative session.
The proposed legislation sought to limit how license plate data is collected and shared, and to guard against misuse by law enforcement officers. It also included provisions for privacy and cybersecurity training for police and required random audits by the attorney general’s office. Despite its strong support, the bill died under mysterious circumstances, leaving many frustrated.
According to CalMatters, this failure comes amid a nationwide backlash against ALPRs, with more than 200 cities or law enforcement agencies ending contracts with license plate reader companies in August alone. Critics, like UC Berkeley Center for Law & Technology co-director Catherine Crump, express disappointment, noting the bipartisan concern over mass surveillance tools. Crump testified in support of the bill in July.
Law enforcement agencies, however, argue that the proposed regulations would hinder their ability to solve crimes and find missing persons. The California State Sheriff’s Association expressed relief that the bill did not pass, citing concerns over limitations on ALPR data utility.
Despite the setback, bill author Senator Sabrina Cervantes remains committed to advocating for privacy rights in California. She emphasized the need for protections to prevent unlawful data sharing and other forms of police misconduct. Cervantes plans to continue the fight for privacy rights in the next legislative session.
