THE IOWA HOUSE HAS APPROVED A BILL TO REGULATE CAMERAS THAT CAPTURE AND STORE IMAGES OF LICENSE PLATES.
THE BILL CALLS ON THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TO IDENTIFY WHICH VENDORS MAY BE USED AND IT WOULD REQUIRE CITIES AND COUNTIES TO PASS ORDINANCES DISCLOSING WHAT COMPANY HAS BEEN HIRED TO COLLECT LICENSE PLATE NUMBERS AND WHO IS REVIEWING THE DATA.
REPRESENTATIVE MEGAN JONES FROM SIOUX RAPIDS, SAYS THE IMAGES COULD ONLY BE STORED IN IOWA FOR 30 DAYS IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW.
CAM1 OC……..IN SURVEILLANCE OF IOWANS.” :20
REPRESENTATIVE J.D. SCHOLTEN OF SIOUX CITY SAYS THE BILL ISN’T PERFECT, BUT IT PROVIDES PROTECTIONS THAT AREN’T IN PLACE NOW.
CAM2 OC………A SURVEILLANCE STATE.” :09
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS IN IOWA COULD NOT BE USED FOR FACIAL RECOGNITION OF DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS IN VEHICLES IF THE BILL BECOMES LAW.
REPRESENTATIVE ZACH DIEKEN OF GRANVILLE — A STATE TROOPER WHO’S NOT SEEKING RE-ELECTION — SAYS LEGISLATORS NEED TO WATCH WHAT HE CALLS “THE ENFORCEMENT WING OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH” LIKE A HAWK.
CAM3 OC…….NEVER BE ILLEGAL.” ;16
REPRESENTATIVE RYAN WELDON OF ANKENY SAYS THE BILL FALLS SHORT BECAUSE IT DOESN’T DIRECTLY ADDRESS HOW THE PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT OPERATE LICENSE PLATE READERS STORE THAT DATA.
OTHER LAWMAKERS SAY THE BILL GIVES THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY THAT KIND OF OVERSIGHT, BECAUSE THE AGENCY WILL DECIDE WHICH PRIVATE COMPANIES CAN OPERATE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS IN IOWA.
THE HOUSE MADE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE SENATE BILL, SO IT NOW GOES BACK TO THE SENATE FOR REVIEW.
RADIO IOWA
