Legislation to regulate automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras across Washington state passed the Washington State Senate on a 40-9 vote on Wednesday.

SB 6002, sponsored by Senator Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma), sets rules around the use and retention of data collected by ALPR ‘Flock’ cameras, which scan the license plates of passing vehicles and collect images and data for use by law enforcement and other government agencies. Washington state currently has no law on the books regulating ALPR cameras.

“My goal with this bill has always been about community safety and trust,” Trudeau said. “Washington state has a constitutional obligation to protect personal privacy and we have an obligation as elected leaders to respond to community concerns when surveillance technology is deployed in our state.  This bill reflects the values of Washingtonians by ensuring clear guardrails on how their data can be used and supports public safety by ensuring that law enforcement has the tools they need to solve serious crimes. I believe we have a workable and responsible path forward that reflects that balance.”

The bill sets time limits for how long the data can be retained, clarifies who is responsible for the data, prohibits the use of ALPR data for immigration enforcement or tracking protected activities like free speech protests, prohibits use of ALPR cameras near schools, places of worship, courthouses, or food banks, prohibits sharing of data with other agencies except in judicial proceedings, and requires logs of all access of ALPR data, so use of the data can be monitored and investigated to ensure compliance.

The bill was amended in committee to extend the retention period of camera data to 21 days, based on feedback from law enforcement agencies, who said they required more time to identify what data would be needed for felony investigations. A 21-day retention period would be the second shortest retention range of any state in the nation, and the shortest of any state where ALPR cameras actually operate.

“This would be the best and strongest license plate reader law of any state in the nation,” Trudeau said. “In addition to ensuring that there are clear rules of the road, the bill has provisions to establish transparency and accountability for any misuse by bad actors.”

In recent months, news reports have raised concerns about how ALPR data is being accessed and shared in Washington state. According to research by the University of Washington, at least eight local law enforcement agencies appear to have enabled sharing of their ALPR data with U.S. Border Patrol. Border Patrol also has “back door” access to license plate data from at least 10 additional agencies without a formal sharing agreement. In other cases, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, and out-of-state law enforcement agencies have accessed ALPR data in Washington state on a more limited basis. This legislation will also align us with current law in the Keep Washington Working Act of 2019.

Additional concerns have been raised about data security and misuse. It was recently discovered that Flock Safety directly shared ALPR data from a city in California with federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms for firearms enforcement, without the knowledge or consent of the city’s police. In 2025, a Texas police department accessed ALPR data in Washington state as a part of a nationwide search for a woman who had an abortion, and they discussed with prosecutors whether to charge her with a crime. In other cases, ALPR cameras have been misused to stalk private citizens, including an ex-girlfriend and estranged wife.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.