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Bill would regulate license-plate readers, set retention limits and restrict third-party access

Washington State Senate Law & Justice Committee · January 20, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Senate Bill 6,002 proposes a state regulatory framework for automated license-plate readers (ALPRs): it generally prohibits ALPR use except enumerated purposes (stolen vehicles, missing persons, specified investigations), requires agency registration and audits, and sets a 72-hour default data-retention limit with multiple exceptions; supporters and civil-liberty groups called for tighter limits on retention and third-party vendor access.

Senate Bill 6,002 would establish statewide rules for automated license-plate reader systems, including permitted uses, registration and auditing requirements, and data-retention limits. The bill generally makes ALPR use unlawful unless an agency meets specific exceptions such as matching plates against stolen-vehicle lists, missing or endangered persons, or vehicles tied to felony warrants; it also prohibits ALPR use at certain sensitive sites, including schools and places of worship.

Staff counsel summarized the bill's core elements: ALPR data would generally be deleted within 72 hours, with…

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