Lancaster County authorizes mobile license plate readers; sheriff outlines privacy safeguards

Lancaster County commissioners voted May 19 to authorize a purchase order for a mobile license plate reader (LPR) system and software licenses from Motorola Solutions through a NASPO master agreement. The initial purchase amount is $19,259.14 and the full five-year expenditure was listed as not to exceed $96,295.70. The contract term would run from May 31, 2026, to May 30, 2031.

Sheriff Terry Wagner said the program is funded through forfeited assets rather than the general budget and described statutorily required safeguards developed with ACLU involvement. He said the system ‘‘only alerts law enforcement when a plate previously entered as stolen or wanted passes a reader’’ and that it does not provide owner or registration data; data are retained for about 60 days and misuse carries criminal penalties for law enforcement personnel.

Commissioner Rick Vest asked for a review of the safeguards because of privacy concerns. Chair Christa Yoakum confirmed the purchase includes adding a new reader as part of a longer-term effort to expand coverage around major highways to assist in identifying vehicles involved in criminal activity. The board approved the item 5-0.

The procurement references NASPO Master Agreement OK-MA-145-21-500 and names Motorola Solutions as the vendor. The sheriff said similar technology is widely used in private-sector operations; county officials did not specify additional oversight steps or an external audit timeline beyond the review requested by Commissioner Vest.