Lawmakers feel way toward compromise on digital license plate readers

The House Civil Law and Data Practices Committee fleshed out terms of the debate over police use of digital license plate readers Thursday with an information-only hearing on HF222, sponsored by Rep. Tony Cornish (R-Vernon Center).

A key provision of the bill would set a 90-day limit on how long law enforcement agencies may retain data they gather with license plate readers.

Committee Chair Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover) said the Legislative Commission on Data Practices and Personal Data Privacy had come to a different stance: “Zero retention was the opinion of that commission.”

Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell, left, and Bloomington Police Chief Jeff Potts testify Feb. 26 in support of a bill that would require automated license plate reader data to be classified and destroyed. Photo by Andrew VonBank

Cornish recognized the gap: “Admittedly, we’re at zero and 90. We’d just like to find some compromise in-between.”

Thursday’s hearing teased out members’ negotiating positions. Rep. John Lesch (DFL-St. Paul) said some kind of check on law-enforcement access to retained license-plate reader data — even short of a warrant or subpoena requirement — would be enough to move him from his zero-retention position.

Cornish said he was ready to compromise but “all the good things that everybody wants to put into this bill will be lost if it’s zero retention. I’m just not going to go there.”

The companion, SF86, sponsored by Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park), awaits action by the Senate Transportation and Public Safety Committee.

Earlier in the hearing the committee took up another bill concerning license-plate readers.

HF155, sponsored by Scott, would require police departments to immediately destroy data from license plate readers, except in cases of “hits” or current investigations. The committee previously heard about the topic at an information-only Feb. 10 meeting.

Sen. Branden Petersen (R-Andover) sponsors the companion, SF31, which awaits action by the Senate Judiciary Committee.