South Dakota and Louisiana Propose License Plate Reader Restrictions

Lawmakers in South Dakota and Louisiana are introducing legislation to address the use of automatic license plate reader (LPR) technology, such as Flock cameras, amid growing national privacy concerns.

Marty Jackley, the Attorney General of South Dakota, announced plans to propose state legislation that would restrict LPR data collection to legitimate criminal investigations. His proposal includes mandates for the deletion of gathered information within a set timeframe unless the data is relevant to an ongoing case. Jackley cited the technology's effectiveness in recovering an abducted 9-year-old girl in Clark County and investigating the death of 14-year-old McKenna Wendel as evidence of its utility.

In Louisiana, State Representative Danny McCormick has taken a more restrictive approach by proposing a bill to ban Flock and similar cameras entirely. McCormick argues that the technology enables government mass surveillance and constitutes a Fourth Amendment violation. The Louisiana State Police have defended the tools, stating they are critical for locating endangered adults and missing children.

Jackley is currently consulting with state law enforcement associations and other attorneys general to develop the South Dakota safeguards. Because his term ends in January, he intends to involve Attorney General nominee Lance Russell in the legislative process to ensure the balance between public safety and individual privacy.