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Pueblo officials asked to back bill expanding local traffic cameras, oppose three privacy measures
Summary
Presenters asked Pueblo City Council to support House Bill 1071, which would allow municipalities to operate automated vehicle-identification cameras on interstates, and to oppose three bills that would restrict historical location data, set statewide surveillance rules, or ban purchase of commercial personal data, citing local-control and public-safety concerns.
Gil Romero and municipal policy staff asked the Pueblo City Council Monday to take positions on four Colorado bills they said would reshape how cities use traffic cameras, license-plate readers and commercially sourced personal data.
“We're asking the city of Pueblo to take a position of support on that bill and then the other 3 bills … we're asking the city of Pueblo to take a position of oppose,” Romero said, referring to House Bill 1071 and three related privacy measures.
Ryan, one of the presenters, said House Bill 1071 would authorize local governments to install and operate automated vehicle identification systems (AVIS) — including speed and traffic-enforcement cameras — on interstate highways within municipal jurisdictions, shifting authority now reserved for the state to municipalities and allowing local automated enforcement on high-speed corridors. He said the tool could improve speed compliance and work-zone safety without additional police staffing, while noting administrative costs and public acceptance are potential issues.
Alec outlined the other three bills. He said Senate Bill 70 would sharply limit government access to historical location data: real-time searches would largely remain, but accessing location information more than 24 hours old would generally require a warrant or documented exception and most data would need deletion within four days unless tied to an active case. He warned that restriction could limit pattern-based investigations and cross-jurisdiction coordination. Alec also described a bill prohibiting government purchase of third-party personal data, which he said would affect vendor-hosted traffic and analytics platforms and could require warrants or consent before officers access subscription-based data.
Romero asked the council to adopt a formal city position so advocates could lobby committee members; he noted House Bill 1071 is sponsored by a Pueblo representative. Mayor Heather Graham said staff could prepare resolutions for support or opposition and asked Police Chief Noller to brief the council next Monday on real-time crime-center impacts.
Council members sought clarification on timelines and the city’s bill-tracker materials. Presenters said the bills had not yet been calendared and that there was time to prepare a resolution or a letter. Kevin Baumer, executive director of the Colorado Municipal League, later told council the AVIS proposal was a CML-initiated bill and that the league expects to oppose one of the privacy bills and seek amendments on another.
Next steps: staff will prepare draft resolutions or letters and Chief Noller will be invited to provide a briefing at the next regular meeting, according to Mayor Graham.
