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Renton council sends pause on Flock license-plate readers to Public Safety Committee
Summary
Citing privacy concerns and recent data breaches, the council voted to refer a proposal to pause the city's use of Flock automatic license-plate readers to the Public Safety Committee for review and to await state action on SB 6002.
The Renton City Council voted to refer a motion to pause the city’s use of Flock automatic license-plate reader cameras to the Public Safety Committee for further review.
Council members cited recent data breaches in neighboring jurisdictions, the King County Superior Court’s treatment of related records as public, and academic research questioning the efficacy and privacy trade-offs of third-party ALPR systems. One council member said sharing Flock data with a list of other cities and a public portal heightens exposure after recent breaches.
Eric Perry, Renton’s government affairs manager, briefed the council on state legislation (Senate Bill 6002) that seeks to establish guardrails for automatic license-plate readers and related systems. He told the council the bill currently limits use to felonies and certain misdemeanors, adds some public-record protections, and sets a proposed retention period of 21 days while the Legislature finalizes language.
Council members asked staff to return with options and legal analysis; the council amended the referral to send the matter specifically to the Public Safety Committee. The administration and Public Safety staff were asked to coordinate with state partners as SB 6002 moves through the legislative calendar.
The council’s referral does not change operational policy immediately; rather, it directs staff and the Public Safety Committee to review policy options, privacy protections and state-law developments and to return recommendations to the council.
