The Carroll City Council voted 4-2 during last night’s (Monday) meeting to update the Carroll Police Department’s policy on license plate readers in patrol vehicles. Police Chief Brad Burke says the department’s fleet is equipped with Motorola in-car camera systems that can read plates and cross-reference them with state and national databases.
Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio
Under the proposed policy, collected data would be stored for as long as state law allows, which is currently 30 days. It also specifically outlines that the use of license plate readers by officers is for official use only. Burke says any misuse would result in severe penalties.
Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio
The council was generally supportive of the policy, but Ward 2 Councilman Jason Atherton says he doesn’t like the idea of officers using this tool to initiate traffic stops over relatively minor infractions.
Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio
Atherton also questioned if the usage of license plate readers violated the Fourth Amendment, which protects Americans against unreasonable searches and seizures. City Attorney Dave Bruner says privacy is less protected when driving a state-registered vehicle on a public roadway.
Your browser doesn’t support HTML5 audio
The council voted 4-2 to approve the license plate reader policy, with Atherton and Ward 1 Councilman Tom Bordenaro voting nay. Video from this section of the Nov. 25 Carroll City Council meeting is included below.
_____