May 15, 2026

With the passage of SB 6002, the Washington Legislature recently adopted thoughtful restrictions and safeguards governing law enforcement use of ALPR technology specifically to protect the privacy and civil liberties of Washington residents. This was done after evaluating the performance, seeing unintended consequences, listening to community concerns, and understanding the importance of this investigative tool. Those laws established clear limitations on how this technology may be used, how it can be shared, how long data may be retained, and prohibited uses involving protected activities and sensitive locations. The law also dictates criminal penalties for those who violate it. We support those safeguards and have worked to ensure our policies and practices align with those legal requirements.

The characterization of this technology as a broad surveillance system does not reflect either the program's intent or the operational reality of its use by our department. ALPR technology does not identify drivers or passengers, does not utilize facial recognition, and does not continuously track individuals. The system doesn’t identify who is behind the wheel; it only knows whether a vehicle is involved in an Amber Alert or has been entered as having been involved in a felony or gross misdemeanor. If there is no crime, the data is deleted after 21 days. Additionally, the data (which is a snapshot, not a video) is collected only from vehicles traveling in the public right-of-way, not in areas where it may infringe on an individual’s expectation of privacy.

Our responsibility as a police department is to use lawful, effective tools that help keep our community safe while respecting constitutional rights and individual privacy. We believe this program, with State laws governing its use, and an objective policy in place, achieves that balance. The information stored in our records is not available to out-of-state or federal agencies, and it cannot be used for immigration purposes. Other Washington State agencies that have a similar ALPR system will have access to the network but, like our officers, must have a justifiable felony or gross misdemeanor investigation, an identifying source, and do so under their own credentials. State agencies without a system must submit a written request to search the Renton network, which must be approved by a supervisor. This ensures that we are following the requirements set forth by our legislators while helping to ensure the safety of our neighboring communities.

I recognize and respect that members of our community hold differing opinions about the use of this technology, and those concerns deserve to be heard and discussed openly. We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and continued engagement with our residents and elected officials throughout these conversations. With any new technology, we need it to evolve with those expectations.

I will continue to advocate for the responsible use of this tool because it makes our department more effective and efficient in providing services, solving crimes, enhancing safety for the Renton community, and bringing justice for victims.

I encourage our public to share their perspective with our elected representatives (Council@rentonwa.gov). Community input is an important part of the decision-making process and ensures that your voice is heard.

Public safety should never be compromised and remains our highest priority, and we will continue working every day to protect the people of Renton with professionalism, integrity, and respect.