License Plate Cameras Are Watching Rochester Roads, But What Happens to the Data They Collect?
License Plate Cameras Are Raising Privacy Questions Across Minnesota
Rochester, MN (Rochester Now) -- License plate reading cameras have become a powerful tool for law enforcement agencies across Minnesota, but as their use expands, so do questions about privacy and exactly what happens to all of the information they collect.
That was part of a conversation between KROC-AM's Andy Brownell and TJ Leverentz during a recent episode of Rochester Today on News-Talk 1340 KROC-AM and 96.9 FM. (Listen to the full conversation at the bottom of this story)
The discussion came after a story out of Winona, where someone didn't just vandalize the city's Flock cameras; they stole them.
Ten cameras were taken in the Winona area, including eight belonging to the city and two located on the interstate bridge connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin. The poles holding the cameras were cut down and the equipment removed.
And Winona isn't the only Minnesota community where the technology has generated some strong feelings.
What Exactly Are Flock Cameras?
Flock cameras are automated license plate readers that can capture information from vehicles traveling past them.
For law enforcement, that can be extremely useful.
Brownell explained that instead of relying on officers to spot a particular vehicle associated with a stolen car, wanted person or missing-person investigation, the technology can automatically recognize a vehicle and alert authorities when it passes a camera.
That's where the debate gets interesting.
"The concern is, as this camera is on 24 hours a day, what's happening with all that data that's being collected that isn't necessarily being used in a crime-fighting effort?" Brownell asked.
"Who has access to it? How is it stored?"
Those questions have become increasingly important as license plate readers have spread across Minnesota.
Rochester Uses Different License Plate Reading Technology
One important distinction made during the conversation is that Rochester Police do not use Flock cameras.
Rochester instead uses license plate-reading technology from Axon.
SEE ALSO: Here's Where License Plate Reading Cameras Are Located in Rochester
Leverentz said Rochester's system differs from Flock when it comes to who can access the information collected by the cameras.
Brownell said access to Rochester's camera data is limited to the Rochester Police Department. He also noted that state law requires the information to be deleted after 60 days unless it is connected to an active investigation.
The Rochester City Council has also publicly discussed expanding the city's license plate-reader network.
Leverentz pointed out that when additional cameras came before the council earlier this year, council members pulled the proposal from the consent agenda so the technology could be discussed publicly with Rochester Police Chief Jim Franklin.
"I did appreciate that in the rollout," Leverentz said.
He described Rochester as appearing to walk a fine line between adopting technology that can help police while also being transparent with residents about how it is being used.
License Plate Readers Have Already Helped Rochester Police
There are plenty of reasons police departments want the technology.
During the discussion, Leverentz used an Amber Alert as an example. If authorities know the vehicle connected to an abduction, a network of license plate readers could potentially locate it much faster than officers simply watching the roads.
And Rochester Police have already credited the technology with helping an investigation.
Brownell recalled Franklin telling the City Council that license plate readers on 41st Street NW helped investigators identify a homicide suspect.
Those cameras are also located near the Rochester Police Department's North Station; something Leverentz noted could allow officers to respond quickly when a wanted vehicle is detected.
The Bigger Issue May Be Trust
The conversation ultimately landed on something bigger than cameras. Trust.
"It's probably one of the key issues in all of this is trying to maintain a level of trust with your constituents and your community," Brownell said.
He argued that when governments or law enforcement agencies introduce surveillance technology without clearly explaining what it does, why it's being used and what happens to the information collected, it can fuel an already significant level of public distrust.
And that's probably where the debate over license plate readers will continue.
The technology can help police find stolen vehicles, locate suspects, and potentially find a missing child faster.
At the same time, a camera capable of identifying and recording vehicles traveling around a community naturally raises questions about who has access to that information and how it can be used.
Or, as Leverentz summed it up during Rochester Today:
"The good with the bad, as they say."
You can listen to the entire conversation about Flock cameras and more in the player below:
Remember This Wild Rochester Home That Ended Up on HGTV?
Gallery Credit: Samm Adams
