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Council approves license‑plate‑reader policy but tables commercial LPR contract after split vote
Summary
The council approved a restricted policy governing automatic license‑plate reader (ALPR) use by police but later voted 4–2 to table a two‑year master‑services agreement with Flock Group for fleet‑mounted LPR services. The council amended the policy before approval to tighten access, retention, and oversight rules.
The Minot City Council approved a city policy restricting use of automatic license‑plate reader (ALPR) data for police operations but tabled a proposed two‑year service agreement with Flock Group for the commercial LPR service.
Acting Police Chief Dale (identified in the record as the department lead) returned to council after earlier discussion and submitted a draft ALPR policy written to address civil‑liberties concerns the council raised at prior meetings. The policy, as amended and approved by council, adds these measures: a prohibition on ALPR use for general surveillance unrelated to documented criminal investigations; quarterly privacy audits by the Office of Professional Standards; a requirement that each query be tied to a case or incident number and include written justification; automatic deletion of ALPR data not linked to an active investigation after 30 days (extensions require written justification by the administration‑division commander); and a community oversight element to review audits and policy alignment with community values.
Alderman Pittner proposed the substantive amendments, and the council unanimously passed the amended policy.
The Flock commercial service agreement was the second, separate decision. After a lengthy discussion about civil‑liberties tradeoffs, officer safety and cost, council members moved to split the vote: first on the policy (approved unanimously after amendments) and then on authorizing the mayor to sign the Flock agreement. On the latter, Council voted 4–2 to table the master services agreement; supporters of tabling cited unresolved budget and oversight questions, while supporters of approving the contract said the service could aid investigative work and officer safety. Chief Dale stated that the department’s existing Axon in‑car system also has LPR capability but that the Axon functionality was not currently enabled; he said separate approval and tighter protocol apply to any activation of that capability.
Ending: The policy is in effect for department ALPR governance; the commercial Flock agreement remains on the table while council and staff refine budget and oversight arrangements.
