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Judiciary Committee backs 30‑day retention compromise for automated license‑plate readers, requires warrant after seven days
Summary
After negotiations with law-enforcement and civil-liberties stakeholders, the Judiciary Committee advanced HB 5449, setting a 30-day maximum retention for ALPR data and requiring a judicial warrant for access after seven days; sponsors said the change balances investigative needs and privacy protections.
The Judiciary Committee adopted a compromise approach on House Bill 5449 (LCO 3559), approving language that allows automated license-plate reader (ALPR) data to be retained for a maximum of 30 days but requires law enforcement to obtain a judicial warrant to access records more than seven days old.
Representative Strom, sponsor of the JFS motion, described the drafting process as collaborative and said the change reflects work with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the judicial branch and civil-liberties groups. "The latest draft of this bill strikes the right balance," he said, explaining that investigators would retain free access to recent reads for a short investigative window but would need judicial authorization thereafter.
Supporters including Senator Kle said the seven‑day warrant requirement and 30‑day retention period protect privacy while preserving the ability to pursue time‑sensitive leads. Critics on the committee said the bill did not go far enough and urged a wider restriction on the use of ALPRs; others warned bans would impede criminal investigations that sometimes rely on data captured outside the seven-day window.
The committee voted to move HB 5449 (JFS) to the floor with the new retention and warrant provisions; votes were held open to allow members still logging in to register their positions.
