RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia state lawmakers seem poised to bring legislation next session to further direct how police departments are allowed to use automated license plate readers, or ALPRs.
It comes after an annual report from the Virginia State Crime Commission on the use of the technology in the Commonwealth found multiple examples of its misuse. And at the same meeting, some members of the public called on lawmakers for an outright ban.
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“Seems to me that we need probably stronger consequences for law enforcement agencies that are not following the laws that we pass,” said Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax). “It strikes me that the consequences that we have are not really adequate to deter agencies from not following our statute.”
The report was released at a time when many Virginia localities are re-assessing their use of ALPRs and staff noted that at least 27 localities have announced such a step since they sent out the survey in August that formed the basis of the report…