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Staunton police brief council on license-plate reader use as residents press for tighter limits or removal
Summary
Police Chief Jim Williams updated council on the city’s stationary automated license plate readers (ALPRs), reviewed state-imposed limits on use and retention (21 days), and reported operational successes. Multiple residents urged council to reconsider the Flock system, citing privacy, data-sharing and misuse concerns.
Police Chief Jim Williams briefed Staunton City Council on Oct. 9 about the city’s stationary automated license-plate readers (ALPRs), the state rules governing their use and retention, and how police have used ALPR results in investigations. After the briefing, several residents spoke during Matters from the Public urging the city to curtail or remove the system.
Williams told council the department has used ALPRs in some form for 15–16 years and added six stationary units about a year ago. He described Virginia law and local policy limitations, including permitted purposes (criminal investigations with reasonable suspicion, locating missing endangered persons, stolen-vehicle alerts and similar authorized uses), the 21-day retention period mandated by state code and an annual reporting obligation to Virginia State Police. “We are…
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