House narrows ALPR data use, limits retention and allows redacted law-enforcement training access

The Kentucky House passed House Bill 58 with a committee substitute and a floor amendment that narrow how automated license-plate reader (ALPR) data may be retained and shared.

Representative Jefferson explained that the committee substitute allows financial-service and insurance companies to retain and share ALPR data for administering private contracts with informed consent. A floor amendment adopted on the chamber floor permits law-enforcement agencies to retain and use ALPR data for training if dates, times and plate numbers are redacted.

Floor debate highlighted ALPRs' public-safety uses and privacy risks. "ALPRs provide a powerful real-time crime-fighting tool," the sponsor said, listing uses from carjacking to locating missing persons, but he cautioned that "ALPR data can also be used for nefarious purposes" and described limits in the bill such as enumerated legitimate purposes, retention typically capped at 90 days and bans on selling data outside narrow purposes.

The House adopted the committee substitute and the floor amendment and passed the measure; the transcript reports 89 members voting in favor and 9 opposed.