Tempe City Council to consider limiting use of automatic license plate reader technology

The city of Tempe is considering limiting its use of automatic license plate reader technology moving forward.

In August, Tempe announced it was turning off its ALPR cameras made by the company Flock.

Now, the City Council is considering an ordinance that would prohibit using city funds to purchase ALPRs and entering into any contracts with ALPR providers. It would also require the city’s existing data be destroyed and establish penalties for city staff violations.

Councilman Bobby Nichols says he proposed the ordinance to limit mass surveillance of Tempe's residents.

“That essentially precludes the city from contracting with any of the ALPR providers who are developing those massive dragnet searchable data sets, which law enforcement around the country and immigration enforcement have been abusing,” Nichols said.

The proposal is framed as a ban on ALPR technology, but Nichols said certain ALPR uses, like in parking garages, would still be permitted, and police would still be able to obtain a judicial warrant for ALPR data from other jurisdictions.

Private use of ALPRs would also continue to be permitted under the ordinance. In a statement, Arizona State University said it has 20 Flock ALPR cameras on its Tempe campus.

Nichols said the city is seeking public feedback on the proposal. The city has set up a survey that’s open through Sept. 15. 

“It's impossible to think of a single Founding Father who would have been OK or on board with the use of flock cameras or ALPR in general,” Nichols said. “And, I feel like we're really just marching forward to the same beat that built this nation.”

The first public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 24 in the City Council chambers. The City Council is scheduled to vote on the measure on Oct. 15.