Glen Ridge council approves automatic license plate readers; members note privacy concerns, audit oversight

The Glen Ridge Borough Council voted to authorize support for installing automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) on traffic signals located in Essex County right-of-way, a move the council framed as a public-safety measure while acknowledging residents’ privacy concerns.

Councilmember Hughes introduced Resolution 87-25, which directs the borough to support the police department’s effort and to provide a certified resolution holding Essex County harmless for ALPR installation and maintenance. The resolution passed after a roll-call vote.

Council discussion and public concern: during the exchange, a council member noted that residents raised “big brother” style privacy concerns. Council members said a communication was sent to residents explaining the devices and emphasized that the borough’s use of ALPR data would be subject to state and internal audit. “I think you did a very nice job addressing all of those concerns,” the council president said, referring to the resident outreach and explanatory materials.

What was decided: the governing body authorized the hold-harmless resolution and instructed staff to coordinate with contractors and county officials on permitting and installation. Councilmembers recorded no opposition in the transcript; the council also discussed audit oversight as part of implementation.

Context and next steps: the transcript records general assurances about audits but does not include a technical policy detailing data retention, access controls, or third-party-sharing restrictions. Implementation tasks the council identified include coordinating permitting and confirming auditing procedures; the police department will oversee installation and compliance with county and state requirements.