Bill > S2974

This bill establishes regulations for the use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) by law enforcement agencies, defining an ALPR as a system that automatically captures images of license plates and vehicles, converts them to text, compares them to programmed lists, and alerts law enforcement to matches. It makes unauthorized access or use of ALPR data a disorderly persons offense, meaning a minor criminal offense. The bill mandates annual audits by the County Prosecutor or Attorney General to ensure ALPRs are used solely for official law enforcement purposes, and requires law enforcement agencies to submit annual reports to the Attorney General detailing the number of ALPRs, readings, stored data, data requests, and any breaches or unauthorized uses, which the Attorney General will then summarize in a report to the Governor and Legislature. Furthermore, stored ALPR data cannot be destroyed and is only accessible to the law enforcement agency during the statute of limitations for any investigated offense.