Limits on license plate readers are likelier than a ban, Utah civic group says

Getting rid of automatic license plate readers in Utah is unlikely, but lawmakers could set clearer rules for who controls the data and when police can use it, Clark Dice of the Utah Civic Compact told a town hall in Washington Terrace on Tuesday. Indivisible Ogden organized the meeting.

Dice, the nonprofit's communications director, said rules differ from agency to agency and should be standardized, and he expects the issue to be a major topic in the 2027 Legislature. He warned of "chilling effects," such as people avoiding AA meetings or treatment centers.

Compact president Connor Radcliffe estimated there are at least 1,000 readers in Utah. Weber County Sheriff's Office data, the only data an agency shared with the group, shows the county's 10 cameras were searched more than 5 million times since early 2022, mostly by out-of-state agencies, Radcliffe said. Policy director Jarom Gillins raised concerns about how data moves through the nationwide network run by Flock.

Police agencies say the readers help them track suspects. The town hall came two days after a West Haven man was cited for putting a "Flock is watching you" sign on a camera pole.