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Council debates automated vehicle identification ordinance over privacy and scope concerns
Summary
Council debated an ordinance to allow automated vehicle identification (AVI) systems for traffic enforcement; staff and the city attorney said the draft follows state statute and limits data collection to detected violations, but councilors raised privacy concerns about an exception permitting use for 'other law enforcement purposes' and requested further study.
Council took an extended look at an ordinance (Bill 28) to authorize use of automated vehicle identification (AVI) systems for traffic regulation, including speed and red-light enforcement. Assistant City Attorney Matthew Munch and other legal staff said the ordinance mirrors state statute, limits data collection so images are only captured when a violation occurs and categorizes records as non-disclosable under the Colorado Open Records Act except for subpoenas/court orders or limited law-enforcement uses.
Councilors raised privacy and scope concerns about language that allows disclosure for "other law enforcement purposes," with multiple members calling that phrase too vague. Councilor Zadie called the exception "a huge gap" and moved for a stay until a study session on ALPR functionality could be completed. Assistant City Attorney Munch said the ordinance was written to preserve flexibility for unanticipated exigent investigations (for example, Amber Alert scenarios) but confirmed the draft limits capture to actual violations and sets a three-year retention period. Council did not finalize passage on second reading; members discussed options to remove the broader law-enforcement exception, continue to a date certain, or rewrite language after a council study session on ALPR functionality.
Council directed staff and legal counsel to consider edits or a delayed schedule for final action, and several councilors requested a focused study session to examine ALPR/AVI functionality, retention, exceptions, and technical safeguards before moving forward.
