LANSING, mi (WTVB) – Michigan state lawmakers have introduced a comprehensive package of bills designed to regulate the use of Flock Safety automated license plate readers .
Sponsored by State Reps. Alicia St. Germaine, Ron Robinson, and Mike Mueller, alongside State Sen. Jim Runestad, the proposed legislation aims to establish strict statewide boundaries on government surveillance.
St. Germaine says nder the new bills, law enforcement agencies would be legally prohibited from retaining scanned driving data for more than 30 days unless it is linked to an active criminal investigation.
Additionally, the legislation seeks to implement heavy criminal penalties for data misuse, making a first offense a 93-day misdemeanor and secondary violations punishable by up to four years in prison and a $2,000 fine.
The sudden legislative push comes amid a growing public backlash and an intensifying debate over driver privacy and technology misuse. Over 100 Michigan law enforcement agencies currently deploy Flock cameras, which track vehicle colors, body types, and license plates around the clock.
While law enforcement associations argue the technology remains vital for locating missing persons and tracking stolen vehicles, lawmakers stress that standardized, statutory safeguards are necessary to protect ordinary citizens from what they characterize as overreach
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