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Council approves license-plate recognition contract amid privacy concerns
Summary
Blue Island approved a renewed agreement for license-plate recognition technology after councilors and the city attorney debated data access, audits and record-keeping requirements. Supporters said the system aids investigations; critics urged stronger, auditable policies and external oversight.
Blue Island’s City Council voted to authorize an agreement to continue using license-plate recognition technology supplied through a private vendor after an extended debate about data access and oversight.
Council members said the cameras are a powerful investigative tool for police but expressed concern about who can access bulk location data and whether the city can prove compliance with its access policies. Several aldermen urged the administration to provide clearer records proving who has used the system and for what purpose.
City legal counsel and police officials told the council there is no allegation that the Blue Island system was accessed improperly by federal immigration authorities. Representatives said policy gaps noted in the past have been addressed: the department now requires a case number for searches and has implemented user training and additional technical restrictions. Law-enforcement use remains restricted to officers under current practice, council members were told.
Opponents pressed for audits and written proof of compliance. One alderman referenced past incidents elsewhere where outside access had been granted without board knowledge and said that should disqualify a vendor unless corrected. Other aldermen and the administration said the vendor has rolled out new security measures and that the police department has limited external access to the system.
The vote passed on the council floor. After the vote, the mayor and police department representatives said they would continue to provide periodic reports and said recent operational changes included requiring a case number for searches, instituting training for users and limiting out-of-jurisdiction queries.
The council did not adopt new, detailed public-facing privacy rules during the meeting; several aldermen asked the administration to return with a report on audits and access logs so the council can review whether the vendor’s and department’s changes meet the city’s policy expectations.
