Michigan would regulate police license plate cameras under bipartisan bill

March 9, 2026

A 24-year-old man in Michigan's Waterford Township was arrested for destroying several automatic license plate readers, ironically caught through data from one of the cameras he damaged. This incident exemplifies the growing tension in Michigan communities over law enforcement's use of these surveillance devices, which photograph vehicle license plates at public intersections and store the data for typically 30 days. Bipartisan state lawmakers are now proposing legislation to regulate these readers statewide, including limiting data retention to 14 days and restricting their use to specific law enforcement purposes, while police organizations worry such restrictions could hamper investigations.

Who is affected

The 24-year-old man arrested for destroying license plate readers in Waterford Township
Michigan drivers whose license plate data is collected by the readers
At least 125 Michigan law enforcement agencies currently contracting with Flock Safety
Residents in communities where license plate readers are being considered or used (including Waterford Township, Lapeer County, Bay City, Ferndale, Detroit, Trenton, and Taylor)
Families of missing persons and crime victims
Republican state Rep. Doug Wozniak and Democratic state Rep. Jimmie Wilson (bill sponsors)
The Michigan Sheriff's Association and other police groups
ACLU of Michigan
Flock Safety (Atlanta-based technology provider)
County commissioners and city council members making decisions about the technology

What action is being taken

Lawmakers are proposing bipartisan legislation to regulate license plate readers
The proposed legislation is pending in the House Judiciary Committee
Detroit city council members recently requested a report on how data from the city's 500+ license plate readers is used
Trenton and Taylor are considering renewing existing contracts with Flock Safety
Waterford Township recently approved adding additional readers and Flock-powered drones
At least 16 states have adopted policies regulating license plate reader use and data retention
Communities around Michigan are reassessing their license plate reader policies

Why it matters

This issue matters because it represents a fundamental tension between public safety and civil liberties in the digital age. The technology enables law enforcement to conduct what critics consider 24-hour mass surveillance of drivers' movements and daily routines, with the vast majority of people monitored never being charged with crimes. The ability to track vehicles for 30 days creates significant privacy concerns about government surveillance capabilities and potential misuse of data, especially regarding sharing with federal agencies. At the same time, law enforcement credits these tools with solving serious crimes including murders, rapes, human trafficking cases, and locating missing persons in communities facing staffing shortages. The outcome of this debate will set precedent for how Michigan balances technological law enforcement tools with constitutional privacy protections, potentially affecting millions of drivers statewide.

What's next

The proposed legislation needs to earn majority support in the politically divided House and Senate to become law
Trenton and Taylor will make decisions on renewing their existing Flock Safety contracts
Detroit is awaiting the report on license plate reader data usage that city council members requested
Communities around the state will continue reaching individual conclusions about license plate reader policies in the absence of statewide regulations

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com