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House approves bill tightening rules for automated license‑plate readers and traffic cameras
Summary
Senate File 2284, amended on the floor, requires local ordinance authorization for automatic license‑plate reader cameras, limits authorized users, mandates image deletion after 30 days and adds search‑log retention controls; the House approved the bill after floor amendments and a recorded vote.
The Iowa House approved Senate File 2284, a measure revising rules for automated traffic‑enforcement systems and the use of automatic license‑plate readers.
Representative Jones, who carried the bill on the floor, said the measure seeks to balance law‑enforcement needs with privacy protections, calling the work a collaboration among members and agencies. "We're trying to walk that line between making sure that we are giving our law enforcement officers the tools that they need to be successful, but also making sure that government isn't over collecting data and surveillance," he said.
Under the amendments adopted on the floor, cameras must be authorized by local ordinance, authorized personnel are limited, images are to be deleted after 30 days, and search logs must be kept with deletion requirements. Sponsors said the bill also bars facial recognition technology tied to plate readers and restricts third‑party sharing. Representative Young described the package as a balance to "protect liberty" while keeping communities safe, and said the bill includes guardrails such as audits and internal data‑use limits.
Representative Deacon cautioned that the legislation is not a one‑time fix and urged ongoing legislative attention to ensure technologies are not misused. Floor debate also noted statutory language creating a Department of Public Safety list of approved plate‑reader vendors and devices (cited on the floor as Iowa Code section 321P.8.24).
The amendment package was adopted and the clerk reported the final recorded vote on the bill as Those voting I 76, No 11, Absent/Not voting 13; the bill was declared to have passed the House.
