Op-Ed: License Plate Readers Are a Critical Public Safety Tool

Public safety is the most fundamental responsibility of local government. Every day in Colorado Springs, I see that responsibility lived out by the women and men of our police department, our firefighters, and our first responders. I also see how important it is that we give them the tools they need to do their jobs well; tools that help them move quickly, make informed decisions, seek justice for victims of crime, and ultimately save lives.

That's why our city has leaned into technology as part of our public safety strategy. Whether it's our Real Time Crime Center, drones as first responders, or other innovations, we are focused on improving response times and outcomes. Among the most effective of these tools is automated license plate reader technology, which the Colorado Springs Police Department has utilized since 2009.

Unfortunately, legislation currently under consideration in the Colorado General Assembly - Senate Bill 70 - threatens to undermine this important public safety tool. Automated license plate readers are simple in concept but powerful in practice. Cameras placed at key roadways capture images of passing vehicles and record basic information such as the license plate, time, and location. Law enforcement can then use that information to locate stolen vehicles, identify suspects, and track vehicles connected to crimes.

But Senate Bill 70 would significantly restrict how law enforcement can access this data. The legislation would require officers to obtain a warrant before searching license plate reader databases for historical location information in many situations and impose strict limits on how long that information can be retained.

While well-intentioned, the practical effect of this proposal would be to render this technology far less useful when response time is critical.

When a child is abducted, and an Amber Alert is issued, investigators often have extremely limited data to begin their search, sometimes just a partial description of a vehicle. License plate reader networks allow officers to quickly search for vehicles matching that description and identify where they were last seen.

We have seen this play out in our own city. In a recent case involving a two-year-old child, CSPD issued an Amber Alert with very limited information. Using immediately available license plate reader data, officers were able to quickly identify a vehicle connected to the case and track its movement. Within two hours of receiving that first call, they located the vehicle nearly five miles away, found the child unharmed in the back seat.

In situations like this, the ability to search immediately can mean the difference between rescue and tragedy.

The same is true for hit-and-run crashes. A witness might remember only that the suspect vehicle was a white SUV heading northbound. With license plate reader technology, investigators can search nearby cameras and narrow down the possibilities within minutes. Without that ability, the tool and the proper use of the data, justice becomes far more difficult to achieve.

There are also the deeply personal emergencies that families experience every day. Imagine a grandfather with Alzheimer's who becomes disoriented, gets into his car, and drives away. These situations are heartbreaking and frightening. License plate reader systems give law enforcement a way to trace the last known location of the vehicle and help bring that loved one home safely.

It is important to note that these cameras do not track people in private spaces. They capture license plates that are already visible to anyone on a public roadway. At the same time, many local governments, including ours, have implemented strict policies governing how this technology is used and who can legally access the information.

Public safety and privacy are not mutually exclusive. We can, and should, implement reasonable safeguards while still allowing law enforcement to use effective tools to protect our communities. The mayors and law enforcement leaders across Colorado who rely on this technology are not asking for unchecked surveillance. We are asking for practical policies that recognize the realities of modern policing and the urgency of emergencies.

Our residents expect us to use every responsible tool available to protect them. Senate Bill 70, as currently written, risks taking one of those tools away. For the sake of our families, I urge lawmakers to reconsider this detrimental legislation and work with local governments and law enforcement to find a balanced solution that protects both public safety and civil liberties.

-Mayor Yemi Mobolade