License plate readers raise concern for some S.C. lawmakers
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - South Carolina drivers likely by devices every day that law enforcement officials say are crucial tools to prevent and investigate crime.
But some lawmakers want to put more restrictions on them – saying they’re ripe for government surveillance and abuse if left unchecked.
State House Reporter Mary Green has the details.
A bill that’s currently in a House Judiciary subcommittee would impose regulations on the cameras known as automatic license plate readers.
“They collect information about your license tag, which seems innocuous until you realize it’s kind of like the data in your cellphone, that you didn’t realize was so important,” said Democratic Rep. Todd Rutherford, House minority leader. “We should not, the government should not use this data to track citizens that have committed no crime.”
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Every time a car drives by, these cameras automatically take a photo of the vehicle and its license plate and record data capturing when and where the plate was read.
But some say there’s little oversight over this system – making it prone to abuse.
This bill would impose restrictions on who could access this database and for what purpose – and limit how long the photos and information in it are kept.
Law enforcement told legislators Tuesday that their existing systems retain data for 30 days – and say they need access to this tool to bolster public safety.
“Criminals are becoming more sophisticated, and the public expects more out of law enforcement, and because of that, we have to utilize the available technology out there to stay ahead of the game,” Chester County Sheriff Max Dorsey said. “And we are not ahead of the game.”
Meanwhile there’s an ongoing lawsuit challenging the use of these cameras.
The South Carolina Department of Transportation says it’s halted approval of any further license plate readers pending that litigation’s outcome – and whether any legislation is enacted at the State House.
Lawmakers say they want to work with law enforcement on this bill – to strike a balance between protecting citizens’ data from misuse – and ensuring law enforcement can use it to stop crime.
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