Bill > S4645

Introduced Session

This bill prohibits private use and regulates governmental use of automated license plate readers in New Jersey. Under the bill, "automated license plate reader" means an electronic device that photographs or scans the license plate of a motor vehicle and uses artificial intelligence analytics to identify the license plate; compares it with information contained in a database; and generates derived ALPR data, which includes any data captured or generated by an automated license plate reader. A private individual or entity, other than an ALPR vendor, is prohibited from installing, using, or accessing an automated license plate reader and from using, accessing, or sharing ALPR data under the bill. "ALPR vendor" means a private individual or business, and any subcontractor or other third party engaged by the private individual or business, that sells or contracts to provide an automated license plate reader or a service related to producing, installing, maintaining, or operating an automated license plate reader or ALPR data. The bill requires private individuals and entities to remove and cease use of any installed automated license plate reader and permanently delete any stored ALPR data. The Attorney General may institute a civil action for injunctive relief to enforce the bill's provisions that regulate private installation and use of automated license plate readers. The bill also regulates the installation of automated license plate readers and the use of, access to, and sharing of ALPR data by government entities. A State government entity may only install an automated license plate reader and permit for the use of or access to an automated license plate reader or ALPR data to regulate the use of a parking facility, control access to a secured area, or collect an electronic toll. The Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety and a local law enforcement agency may, in addition, install an automated license plate reader and permit for the use of or access to an automated license plate reader or ALPR data in conjunction with a "be on the lookout," or BOLO, list maintained solely for use with a law enforcement operated automated license plate reader. The bill prohibits a law enforcement agency from installing or using an automated license plate reader that would target certain areas based on certain protected classes. A BOLO list solely used in conjunction with an automated license plate reader may only include the license plate number, or partial license plate number, of a vehicle if the vehicle, or any person reasonably believed to be associated with the vehicle, is material to an investigation into whether the vehicle: 1) is unregistered or uninsured; 2) is being operated in violation of State inspection requirements; 3) is associated with a missing person; 4) was stolen; or 5) is related to or was involved in a serious crime, which includes any crime under the No Early Release Act (NERA) and substantially similar crimes under the laws of another state or the United States. Only the Attorney General may share ALPR data, and the Attorney General may only share ALPR with an out-of-State government entity, which includes the federal government and the governments of other states, or an individual pursuant to a judicial warrant supported by probable cause or another valid court order that specifically identifies the data being requested. The bill exempts ALPR data from the disclosure requirements of the open public records act unless certain criteria are met. Additionally, the bill permits a government entity to contract with an ALPR vendor for the installation of an automated license plate reader but specifies that any ALPR data collected is the government's property. Each State government entity is permitted to maintain an ALPR data management system or contract with an ALPR vendor for the creation and maintenance of a system. The Attorney General is required to implement and maintain a Statewide ALPR data management system to centrally store ALPR data collected in the State, facilitate sharing of ALPR data between State government entities, and from which the Attorney General may share ALPR data with out-of-State government entities or individuals. The bill establishes various requirements with which each ALPR data management system is required to comply. The bill also establishes that ALPR data is required to be deleted within two days of the date of collection unless certain criteria and processes are completed to retain the data. Under the bill, the head of each State government entity is required to conduct an annual audit of the entity's use and access to automated license plate readers and ALPR data. The bill establishes minimum criteria that each State government entity is required to assess during the annual audit. Each government entity is also required to post the audit results on its Internet website and submit the results to the Attorney General. The Attorney General then submits each annual audit, including its own, and a summary of the annual audits to the Legislature. Any ALPR data obtained by a State government entity in violation of this act, and any evidence derived from that ALPR data, shall not be admissible by a State or an out-of-State government entity in any criminal, civil, administrative, or legislative proceeding in this State. However, any party other than a government entity may introduce ALPR data collected in violation of this act in a criminal, a civil, an administrative, or a legislative proceeding.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

John Burzichelli (D)*,  Joe Vitale (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee (on 10/01/2026)

Bill Topics

Official Document