Hastings council approves permits for automated license-plate readers, police describe uses and limits

The Hastings City Council on Jan. 23 voted 7-1 to approve Resolution 2026-02, authorizing the mayor to sign documents needed for permitting an automated license-plate reader (ALPR) system along several state-highway corridors into Hastings.

Adam Story of the Hastings Police Department told the council the department budgeted for the system, has not yet installed it, and seeks the state permit for units that fall on state right-of-way. "They're not hidden devices," Story said. "The main purpose of the automated license plate reader... is reading license plates or vehicles as they pass those intersections, and if vehicles are entered into the system as a stolen vehicle or a person that's wanted or abducted... it will give you an alert as that car passes that camera." He added that ALPRs do not detect speed or issue citations in Nebraska.

Council members questioned data access, live-view capabilities and cost. Story said some installations will include live-view cameras on private property but not on state highways; those live views will be accessible only to police and staff, not publicly streamed. He also described analytics uses, including traffic-flow reports the engineering department could produce for economic-development questions. On costs, Story said the department researched vendors and selected the most affordable option for their coverage needs and that the system had been budgeted previously.

The council approved the resolution with a 7-1 vote. Story said installation still requires permitting and that the system is not yet active; staff will proceed with state permitting and local implementation steps.

What happens next: Staff will complete required state permits and proceed with installation planning and internal access rules. The council discussed clarifying what analytics and reports might be shared with the public or business partners.