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Council approves license-plate-reader contracts after public privacy concerns; police to finalize retention policy
Summary
The Niagara Falls City Council authorized contracts for a license-plate-reader (LPR) project for the police department following extended discussion among council members and members of the public about data retention, oversight and contract terms. Council voted 5-0 to authorize the mayor to finalize and sign the contract.
The Niagara Falls City Council on Feb. 19 approved awarding contracts for a license-plate-reader project to assist the Niagara Falls Police Department, but the decision came after extended council and public debate over retention periods, oversight and whether the contract should include explicit limits on access.
Council members and several public speakers raised concerns about how long plate-reader data would be kept, who could access it and whether the contract should require a warrant or independent audits to prevent misuse. One public speaker cited a University of Michigan study and American Civil Liberties Union commentary about misuse of plate-reader data in other jurisdictions.
Council staff and the mayor's office said the contract has not been finalized and that the police department would provide guidance on appropriate retention periods and operational needs.…
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