The Seattle Police Department (SPD) aims to significantly expand the use of license plate readers to all 360 vehicles to combat a surge in stolen vehicles. Currently, she is one of only 11 police cruisers equipped with this technology. According to SPD, auto thefts increased 33% citywide from 2022 to 2023, increasing from 6,934 to 9,189.
But the request raises privacy concerns about how the information collected will be accessible to the public and used to investigate other crimes. The Seattle City Council (SCC) Public Safety Committee heard SPD’s request on Tuesday, but will not take any action until SPD returns and addresses the privacy concerns raised by council members.
Seattle Police Department asks City Council for $280,000 and approval to expand automatic license plate reader (ALPR) technology across its fleet, including 270 cruisers, six police boats and other non-cruiser vehicles. ing.
If approved, the initiative would mark a major change in surveillance practices in the city.
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This enhancement utilizes high-definition in-vehicle video cameras, also known as “dash cams,” to continuously scan and analyze license plates within view. Currently, SPD uses his ALPR to assist in recovering lost or stolen vehicles, parking enforcement, issuing Amber Alerts and Silver Alerts, and other active investigations involving missing persons.
The SCC approved the first ALPR program in 2021, limiting the number of police vehicles to 11. One of his machines was demonstrated by Seattle Police Department Lt. John Britt, who told the City Council that the system worked.
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“I’m not a police officer on regular patrol, but in the last two years alone I’ve recovered about 24 stolen vehicles. That includes going out to pick up the documents and attending other meetings,” Britt said.
The software decodes plate numbers and instantly cross-references license plate numbers with databases such as the Washington Crime Information Center, the FBI’s National Crime Information Center, and SPD’s Internal Investigations.
If a match is found, patrol officers must verify the accuracy of the license plate and check with dispatch before taking action, according to a report SPD submitted to Congress. But Britt told the council that the technology cannot read the conditions the plates represent.
“The technology is not yet advanced enough to be able to distinguish between different conditions; it just reads the letters on the license plate itself. So the human involvement aspect is very important for that.” Britt said.
Supporters have touted the expansion’s potential to strengthen public safety and police accountability, but others, including several City Council members, say the expansion has particularly historically marginalized communities. They expressed concern about the impact on civil liberties in their communities.
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Officials are concerned about misuse of license plate technology
During a public comment period that ended in late 2023, various stakeholders expressed concerns about increased oversight, data retention periods, and the potential for misuse of ALPR data by government agencies.
Kathy Moore, a former King County Superior Court judge and current freshman City Council member, announced a 90-day retention policy for all information collected and stored with third-party service providers as part of SPD’s plan. He said he was deeply concerned.
“We are now opening the door to public records requests from people who may put domestic violence victims at risk, potentially including stalking, harassment, immigration status, ethnicity, religion, etc.” “It could increase the number of people who are targeted not just because of their reproductive identity, but also because of their immigration status,” Moore said. “I would be very reluctant to vote on this until we address preservation issues under the Public Records Act.”
As the SCC considers CB 120778, continued review by the Council’s central staff is aimed at identifying specific policy options. The commission has scheduled a second public hearing for May 28, 2024, at which further amendments may be considered.
Matt Markovich is an analyst and reporter who frequently covers state legislatures and public policy on KIRO Newsradio. You can read more about Matt’s story here.please follow him X, formerly known as Twitteror send an email here.
