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WA Senate OKs Guardrails for License Plate Readers
The bill sets a 21-day retention limit, bans immigration enforcement use, and restricts cameras near sensitive sites to protect privacy amid rising ALPR data concerns.
- The Washington State Senate advanced SB 6002 on a 40-9 vote on Feb. 4, 2026, and the bill now moves to the House for consideration after Feb. 4.
- University of Washington research found at least eight local agencies enabled ALPR data sharing with U.S. Border Patrol, raising privacy concerns amid a Skagit County judge ruling that ALPR data is public records.
- Amendments set a 21-day retention period, bar ALPR cameras near sensitive sites, and require five-year access logs plus Consumer Protection Act penalties.
- If enacted, the bill would limit federal agencies' access to Flock Safety data, exempt reader data from public disclosure except for research, and require the state attorney general to develop ALPR policies by July 1, 2027.
- Sen. John Braun said amendments were a step in the right direction but not enough, with law enforcement and agencies opposing the bill's operational impacts and advocating for a 7-day retention cap.
15 Articles
15 Articles
We Need to Regulate Automated License Plate Readers Now
Glaring down at us from light posts, traffic lights, and even convenience stores, is a privately-built, publicly paid-for surveillance network of license plate readers. Whenever a vehicle passes by, cameras not only capture and store data about our license plates but information about our vehicles, location, images of passengers, and our movements. Right now, your data can be freely shared between local, county, state law enforcement, unregulate…
The Columbian
WA Senate OKs guardrails for license plate readers
Legislation to regulate the use of automated license plate readers amid concerns over federal immigration agents accessing data the devices collect, passed the Washington state Senate on Wednesday. Read more...
Senate passes bill regulating license plate reader cameras in Washington state
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Senate Bill 6002 passed on Wednesday with a vote of 40 in favor and nine against it, establishing new regulations for the use of automatic license plate reader cameras. The bill prohibits the use of data from these cameras for immigration enforcement operations, while restricting the placement of these cameras near schools
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