Illinois bill would limit police use of license plate reader data amid privacy concerns – Shaw Local
Illinois bill would limit police use of license plate reader data amid privacy concerns – Shaw Local
Publish Date: 2026-05-29 04:00:00
Source Domain: www.shawlocal.com
A bill proposed in the Illinois state legislature would limit when police agencies can access data created by automated license plate reader systems and how long the data would be retained.
House Bill 5151, known as the Automated License Plate Recognition System Act, would define when automated license plate recognition systems, sometimes called ALPRS, can be used by law enforcement agencies.
State Rep Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, wrote that he believes police groups are “strongly opposed to” the proposed bill because of how the technology has helped police work.
“License plate readers are a valuable public safety tool that have helped solve serious crimes across our state,” Keicher wrote. “In DeKalb County alone, this technology has helped lead to arrests in cases involving robbery, shoplifting, and an abusive father who killed his infant child. It is a critical resource for keeping our communities safe.”
The legislation would sharply limit how long police can keep data collected by automated license plate reader cameras and restrict how the information can be used, including banning its use to track people attending protests, seeking lawful health care or for immigration enforcement. The proposal has ignited a broader debate in Illinois over balancing public safety with growing concerns about AI-driven surveillance and personal privacy.
DeKalb County Sheriff Andy Sullivan said license plate readers were used during a multiagency search that spawned after sheriff’s deputies found Holly and Gary Schmidt dead inside their Sycamore home Sept. 30, the victims of apparent blunt force trauma.
An ALPRS in Rockford helped police find a vehicle that was missing from the scene, Sullivan said. As a result, Kevin Schmidt – Gary and Holly’s son – who police say later confessed to plotting the killings, was apprehended by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office within three hours of DeKalb County sheriff’s deputies first entering the Schmidt home.
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