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Lawmakers consider more regulations for automated license plate readers | News | the-messenger.com
# Lawmakers consider more regulations for automated license plate readers
- LEGISLATIVE RESEARCVH COMMISSION
#### mmckinley
- Author email (mmckinley@the-messenger.com) - Sep 4, 2026 - 29 mins ago - 0
Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, advocated for law enforcement's use of automated license plate readers, while also recognizing regulation is needed to ensure privacy. Carroll made these comments during Thursday's Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary meeting. David Hargis | LRC
FRANKFORT — Kentucky lawmakers are considering additional regulations for automated license plate readers as the technology continues to evolve.
House Bill 58 became law in Kentucky in July and established regulations governing law enforcement’s use of automated license plate readers, or ALPRs.
The Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary discussed whether additional regulations are needed during its Thursday meeting. Several ALPR stakeholders were invited to discuss the technology, its uses and privacy concerns, including representatives from Flock Safety.
Kevin Kane, Flock Safety’s director of governmental affairs, said the company “was pleased” with the passage of HB 58.
“As the committee is aware, ALPRs have become a vital tool for law enforcement investigations, but we also believe it must be used in concert with strong policy and guardrails,” he said.
Kane said Flock does not own, control or sell data collected by its cameras. He also said the company is in the process of requiring law enforcement agencies to include a case code when accessing data.
“Every single search is preserved permanently in an audit trail available for oversight,” Kane said. “For additional transparency and oversight, Flock also provides our customers with an audit assist tool to guard against misuse and further strengthen this oversight.”
Kane also said Flock does not use facial recognition technology.
“The bottom line is that ALPR data is simply images of vehicles used for legitimate law enforcement purposes and then deleted permanently,” he said.
Kane said legitimate law enforcement uses include locating stolen vehicles and identifying and locating murder suspects.
Several lawmakers questioned Kane about Flock’s technology and policies, including Rep. T.J. Roberts, R-Burlington.
Roberts asked whether Flock was “prepared to adopt operating procedures” to ensure data cannot be accessed by public agencies without a search warrant.
Kane said Flock follows the law.
Roberts also raised concerns about the potential for future facial recognition capabilities. He said he located a U.S. patent registered by Flock concerning facial recognition.
Kane reiterated that Flock’s automated license plate readers do not use facial recognition technology.
Rep. Nima Kulkarni, D-Louisville, said she shares concerns about data privacy and questioned whether Flock would comply with additional regulations adopted by Kentucky.
Kulkarni said she recognized that Flock may not currently have certain capabilities but that the company is working toward developing them. She asked Kane to confirm that Flock, as a private company, would comply with any regulations and guardrails Kentucky may enact regarding its technology.
Kane said he “sees no reason” why Flock would not follow future Kentucky laws concerning ALPRs or other technology.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Cato Institute also advocated for additional ALPR legislation next year to prevent mass government surveillance.
Kate Miller with the ACLU of Kentucky said Kentucky should be “really thoughtful” about data retention requirements involving ALPR use.
The ACLU recommends that ALPR data be deleted within 48 hours rather than the 90 days currently allowed under state law. The organization also recommends that independent agencies conduct annual and routine audits of how law enforcement agencies use and access the data.
Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, said he supports law enforcement’s use of ALPRs but agreed that the technology needs regulations.
“This is a tool that will save lives and solve crimes, and that’s the way we need to approach it,” Carroll said. “Do we need to find out and research and make decisions on what the parameters are on how it’s used? Absolutely … I would just ask we don’t condemn the tool. We condemn the improper use of it.”
House Majority Whip Jason Nemes, R-Middletown, also recognized the technology’s benefits to law enforcement while advocating for a search warrant requirement.
“I don’t know why we wouldn’t require a warrant unless there’s exigent circumstances,” Nemes said. “That’s the way we make sure our Fourth Amendment isn’t destroyed.”
Lawmakers cannot take action on legislation until the 2027 legislative session begins Jan. 5.
The next meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary is scheduled for 11 a.m. Oct. 1. More information is available at legislature.ky.gov.
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