Sanders Proposes Federal Ban on License Plate Reader Technology

Legislation Targets Automatic License Plate Readers

Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the Ban Flock Act on Friday, seeking to prohibit federal agencies from using automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) or accessing data collected by these systems operated by local police and private companies. Despite the bill's focus on Flock, the nation's largest ALPR provider with more than 120,000 cameras, the legislation applies broadly to all ALPR systems. The company's network processes over 20 billion vehicle reads monthly, according to Sanders' office.

The proposed restrictions would create only narrow exceptions for toll collection and uses specifically approved by Congress in future legislation. Any Congressional approval would mandate that data retention periods not exceed 48 hours. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Jeff Merkley joined Sanders as co-sponsors, signaling Democratic support for the measure.

Financial Penalties for Non-Compliance

The bill uses financial leverage to enforce compliance with states and localities. Beginning the first fiscal year after enactment, jurisdictions that fail to ban the technology would lose federal grants from five departments, including the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security. This penalty structure aims to make the cost of continued ALPR use prohibitively expensive for state and local governments currently relying on federal funding.

Additionally, the legislation would grant Americans the right to sue the federal government for violations, and empower state attorneys generals to enforce the law's provisions. These enforcement mechanisms signal intent to create multiple accountability pathways beyond traditional federal oversight.

Rising Public Pressure and Company Response

Flock has faced mounting opposition from communities protesting the technology, with jurisdictions suspending deployments and canceling contracts at accelerating rates. In response, Flock CEO Garrett Langley has implemented policy changes, including tightening default data retention periods from 30 days to seven days in August. The company also introduced an audit tool that flags unusual searches and locks officers out pending review.

The company's enforcement efforts come after high-profile abuse cases. A former Milwaukee police officer pleaded guilty to misconduct after using the system to search for his former partner and her ex 179 times under the pretense of conducting an investigation. Langley previously suggested that how police use the cameras remained a matter for local agencies, but tighter controls signal a shift in approach as public pressure intensifies.