Maui committee approves first‑reading ordinance limiting how license‑plate reader data is used and shared

The Disaster Recovery, International Affairs and Planning Committee of the Maui County Council voted to recommend first‑reading passage of Bill 1‑13, an ordinance establishing rules for the disclosure and commercial use of license‑plate reader (ALPR) data, after adopting several staff and counsel amendments.

Chair Tamara Paulton presided over the deliberations, and members passed the motion on a roll call of 7 ayes, 1 no and 1 excused. Committee discussion focused on narrowing query and disclosure language, documenting emergency uses and placing specific contract conditions on vendors. "This chapter does not limit disclosure when exigent circumstances exist," the revised text states and requires prompt documentation, reflecting a change suggested by the prosecuting attorney and accepted by police staff.

Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin recommended substituting an "exigent circumstance" standard for the narrower "imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury" language and asked that any exigent use be documented within 24 hours; the committee incorporated that approach into the draft. Lieutenant Cristina Banacorsi of the Maui Police Department said the change "cleans it up a lot for us" and supported the documentation requirement.

Members also approved language aimed at procurement and vendor eligibility: the code now includes a clause that the county "must not execute or renew" a contract with vendors who meet specified disqualifying criteria attached to ALPR services. Staff and corporation counsel said contract clause wording was adjusted to be procurement‑appropriate while keeping the substantive safeguards in place.

The ordinance package remains subject to the council's full hearing schedule; passage on first reading advances the measure to the next step in the county process. The committee asked staff to upload federal references (28 CFR Part 23) and related materials to Granicus for member review and to provide follow‑up details on subscription fees and camera counts.