The California Legislature declined for the fifth year in a row to approve rules governing automated license plate readers, according to LAist. A measure that had cleared the Senate was halted in the Assembly on the session's final day and never reached a floor vote.
Senate Bill 1013 sought to limit how agencies collect and share plate data, require privacy training for officers, and mandate random audits by the attorney general. It would have restricted routine sharing with national databases and confined use to locating suspects or missing persons.
UC Berkeley's Catherine Crump called the outcome disappointing given bipartisan worries about widespread surveillance. Law enforcement groups, however, welcomed the result, arguing that added limits would hinder crime-solving and searches for missing individuals.
The California State Sheriffs' Association said the bill risked reducing the value of the data for investigations and exonerations. Nearly 40 agencies and unions had opposed the measure even after its requirements were scaled back.
Public opposition has intensified recently, with several California cities and departments ending contracts with Flock Safety. Nationwide, more than 200 jurisdictions dropped similar agreements in August, the highest monthly total since 2021.
Senator Sabrina Cervantes, the bill's author, expressed regret that it never reached a vote but pledged to pursue stronger privacy protections next year. More than 230 police and sheriff departments in the state currently operate the readers.
Past audits have identified improper data sharing with federal immigration authorities, violating state law. The technology has also been linked to cases of officers misusing records for personal reasons, including stalking.
This report is based on coverage by LAist: https://laist.com/news/politics/california-kills-bill-regulating-flock-cameras-even-as-public-rage-grows