TEMPE — The Tempe City Council on Thursday became the first Arizona city to ban police use of automated license plate readers, approving a 6-1 ordinance that goes beyond ending the city’s Flock Safety contract.
The law prohibits Tempe and its law enforcement agencies from purchasing, using or accessing ALPR systems and data except in limited situations. In August, Tempe canceled its Flock Safety contract and disabled the cameras citywide after privacy concerns.
Councilmember Bobby Nichols introduced the measure, saying the fight is about private companies’ business model of monetizing people’s movements. Audits found no evidence Tempe officers misused Flock cameras, he noted, but residents still pressed for a ban. Nathan Taylortaft of East Valley Unite told the council constituents would not trade civil liberties for police convenience.
Police Chief Ken McCoy opposed the ban, saying crimes have gone unsolved since the cameras were decommissioned. The ordinance still allows ALPR data obtained by warrant, subpoena or court order, and lets officers in multi-agency task forces review data another agency lawfully collected if Tempe did not request the search. Non-police uses such as parking management are allowed if personal location data is not shared into searchable private databases.
Existing ALPR data must be destroyed unless it is evidence in a criminal case or the city is otherwise required to keep it. Employees who violate the ordinance can face discipline up to termination.
Sources: ABC15. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Cygnusloop99 / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
