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Thornton council warned Senate Bill 70’s ALPR limits could hinder investigations; members signal opposition
Summary
City lobbyist and police leaders briefed council on Senate Bill 70, which would restrict government access to historical automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) data older than 72 hours and require data purge at 30 days; council and police leaders said the measure could impede time‑sensitive investigations and many members signaled opposition.
Thornton’s lobbyist and public‑safety leaders told council on Monday that Senate Bill 70 — a measure to limit government access to historical automated license‑plate reader (ALPR) data — is moving rapidly through the legislature and poses operational challenges for law enforcement.
Kevin Orkin, the city’s state lobbyist, said the bill moved out of the Senate Appropriations Committee by a 4–3 vote and is expected to reach the full Senate soon. Key changes under current amendments: a warrant requirement to access data older than 72 hours and a requirement to purge ALPR data after 30 days. Orkin said the bill’s fiscal and enforcement details have shifted as it moved through the process.
Police leaders urged opposition. The police chief told council the bill would "absolutely negatively impact public safety in the city of Thornton," because many investigations are time‑sensitive and the data often help establish probable cause. City legal and law‑enforcement representatives explained that obtaining warrants can introduce delays that, within the proposed 72‑hour window, could make relevant data inaccessible.
Council members across the political spectrum expressed concern. Several said they would oppose the bill in its current form or preferred an "amend" position if workable changes were possible; others said the measure’s drafting approach made meaningful fixes unlikely. Council asked staff to monitor the bill’s floor calendar and to provide position recommendations to the council as the legislature moves quickly.
The briefing included references to other jurisdictions’ positions: local chief and county district attorneys have expressed opposition, while civil‑liberties groups and some counties have supported the measure. Staff emphasized that the council previously authorized staff to engage with lobbyists and that the city would continue to gather more detail to determine an official position ahead of any vote in the state Senate.
