Lansing, MI → A bipartisan pair of Michigan lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at regulating the growing use of Automatic License Plate Readers, including those operated by Flock Safety, as debate intensifies over privacy, data retention and law enforcement access.
State Reps. Doug Wozniak, R-Shelby Township, and Jimmie Wilson Jr., D-Ypsilanti, announced House Bills 5492 and 5493 during Data Privacy Week in late January. The bills would establish statewide rules governing how Automatic License Plate Readers, known as ALPRs, are defined, used, and regulated.
Currently, ALPR technology is not regulated under Michigan law.
What The Bills Would Do
Under the proposed legislation, government entities would be limited to using ALPR systems for specific public safety purposes, including identifying stolen or unregistered vehicles, locating missing persons, flagging vehicles connected to active investigations, regulating parking facilities, controlling secured access areas, and collecting electronic tolls.
Captured plate data could not be retained for more than 14 days unless tied to an ongoing investigation or preserved through a court order, warrant, or formal preservation request. Agencies would also be required to adopt publicly posted policies and submit quarterly reports detailing how often plates are scanned and how many matches lead to arrests.
Private companies operating ALPR systems would also face new rules, including strict data destruction timelines and potential civil penalties of at least $1,000 per violation plus attorney fees.
Wozniak said the legislation is about guardrails, not bans.
“Michiganders deserve to know that new technology is being used responsibly,” Wozniak said, arguing that clear standards protect motorists while maintaining public trust.
Wilson echoed that message, stating the goal is to prevent routine mass surveillance while still supporting legitimate policing.
Rapid Expansion Across Michigan
ALPR cameras, often mounted to light poles or patrol vehicles, automatically capture license plates, and often vehicle make and model, sometimes scanning hundreds of plates per minute.
More than 125 Michigan cities and counties reportedly use the technology in some form. The state currently holds a $2.626 million contract with Flock Safety through June 2030.
Departments in communities including Kentwood, Kalamazoo, Flint, Portage, Wixom and several northern Michigan townships have adopted or renewed contracts in recent years.
Law enforcement leaders credit the systems with helping solve homicides, recover stolen vehicles, track suspects in violent assaults and locate missing children. In Kalamazoo alone, officials have cited more than 20 homicide investigations where plate reader data played a role.
The Michigan Sheriff’s Association has said the technology is heavily audited, password protected, and requires specific plate queries rather than broad searches. Still, the group has expressed concern that the proposed regulations could be too restrictive.
Privacy And ICE Concerns
Civil liberties advocates argue the issue is not targeted use, but mass collection.
ALPR systems continuously collect data on every vehicle that passes, regardless of whether the driver is suspected of wrongdoing. Critics warn that without firm limits, the systems can effectively create movement histories showing where individuals travel, including visits to doctors, protests, religious institutions or political events.
Concerns intensified in 2025 when reporting by independent outlet 404 Media suggested some local police agencies nationwide were performing immigration related lookups within Flock’s system, potentially providing indirect access to federal authorities.
Flock has publicly stated it does not work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and that ICE does not have direct access to its cameras or data.
In Michigan, privacy concerns have already influenced local decisions. Bay City rejected a contract renewal following public pushback. Genesee County delayed renewing contracts for 30 cameras. Kalamazoo residents have questioned whether the technology raises Fourth Amendment issues.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan has previously raised concerns about the lack of statewide standards governing data retention and sharing.
The Core Debate
At the center of the issue is a familiar tension: Public safety versus personal privacy.
Supporters argue ALPR cameras are simply modern investigative tools and are no different than fingerprints or DNA databases and that they have already proven effective in solving serious crimes.
Opponents counter that constant data collection on law abiding drivers crosses a line and risks normalizing continuous tracking by government or private contractors.
The bipartisan bills now sit before the Michigan House Judiciary Committee. A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.
If adopted, Michigan would join at least 16 states that have enacted specific statutes addressing license plate reader use or data retention limits.
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