Automated license plate reader bill heads to governor's desk
EVERETT — As Washington’s first legislation regulating automated license plate readers heads to the governor’s desk, the status of Everett’s Flock Safety cameras remains up in the air.
On Tuesday, Senate Bill 6002 officially passed both chambers of the Legislature. The bill provides clarity on public records law, what crimes officers can use automated license plate readers to enforce and how long departments are allowed to retain data.
Over the past several months, some Snohomish County cities have paused their Flock camera networks or canceled their contracts with the company. Community concern over the technology grew after reports that federal agencies — including U.S. Customs and Border Protection — accessed several Flock networks in the county without police departments’ knowledge.
Flock cameras are automated license plate readers that use artificial intelligence to analyze vehicle footage. Many law enforcement agencies across the country have implemented the technology as an investigative tool to assist with solving crimes, including vehicle theft.
https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/03/12/automated-license-plate-reader-bill-heads-to-governors-desk/