License-plate reader (ALPR) laws by state

This guide follows the National Conference of State Legislatures' ALPR statutes table (updated September 28, 2026; we retrieved it 2026-10-12). NCSL lists a statute for 27 of 51 jurisdictions (the 50 states plus DC). For the rest, NCSL identified no ALPR-specific statute; general public-records and privacy laws still apply. Summaries below are NCSL's words. This isn't legal advice: read the statute itself before relying on it.

Detailed matrix: statutes we checked ourselves

For these states we read the statute on the official legislature site. Fields we couldn't confirm say "unknown." Last verified October 12, 2026.

States with an ALPR statute (per NCSL)

Alabama

§41-9-620 is the statutory authority for Alabama Administrative Code 265-X-.01 to .10 “License Plate Recognition Systems for Law Enforcement” Government and law enforcement use of ALPRs in Alabama is governed by administrative regulations that require any law enforcement agency using ALPR systems to adopt and publicize a written policy addressing the use of databases for comparison, data retention, data sharing with…

Arkansas: § 12-12-1801 to 1808

Prohibits use of ALPRs by individuals, partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies, associations or the state of Arkansas. Provides exceptions for limited use by law enforcement, by parking enforcement entities, for controlling access to secure areas, by a private landowner, private leaseholder, or commercial business for the purpose of promoting public safety, deterring crime, and monitoring access to…

California: Veh. Code § 2413 Civil Code § 1798.90.5 et seq.

Provides that the California Highway Patrol (CHP) may retain data from an ALPR for no more than 60 days, unless the data is being used as evidence in felony cases. Prohibits selling or making available ALPR data to non-law enforcement officers or agencies. Requires CHP to monitor internal use to prevent unauthorized use. Requires CHP to report to the legislature annually about how ALPR data is being used, including…

Colorado: § 24-72-113

Requires that video or still images obtained by passive surveillance by governmental entities, such as images from monitoring cameras, must be destroyed within three years after the recording of the images, unless retention is authorized under 24-72-113. Specifies that the custodian of a passive surveillance record may only access the record beyond the first anniversary after the date of creation of the record if…

Connecticut: SB 397 (2026)

Public agencies and private vendors may operate ALPR systems only for specified purposes including weigh station duties, vehicle monitoring, access control, traffic analytics, parking enforcement, state facility security, and motor vehicle tax compliance. Law enforcement agencies may use such systems to compare data with specified databases or when an officer determines data may be relevant to a specific active…

Florida: § 316.0777 § 316.0778

Allows law enforcement agencies to request the installation of ALPR for the purpose of collecting criminal intelligence or investigative information. Systems cannot be used to issue traffic citations. Creates public records of exemption for certain images and data, including personal identifying information, obtained by ALPR systems. Provides that images and data containing personal information obtained from ALPR…

Georgia: § 35-1-22

License plate data may be collected and accessed only for law enforcement purposes, which is defined as the investigation of an offense or activity initiated by law enforcement. The data must be destroyed no later than 30 months after it was originally collected unless the data are the subject matter of a toll violation or for a law enforcement purpose. Allows sharing of captured license plate data among law…

Idaho: § 49-1432

Allows an agency to use an ALPR and its data for law enforcement purposes and/or traffic flow analysis. If the agency uses an ALPR for law enforcement purposes, they cannot use the device and its data for any purpose other than the investigation of felony or misdemeanor crimes, traffic accidents, or missing/endangered persons’ searches. Prohibits are used for traffic enforcement. Limits access to ALPR data to only…

Illinois: 605 ILCS 140/5 (see repeal note) 625 ILCS 5/2-130 5 ILCS 140/7.5

Requires Illinois State Police, Department of Transportation and the state toll authority to work together on a program to increase cameras in specified areas of the state. Authorizes images from these cameras to be used by any law enforcement agency conducting an active investigation but limits scope to vehicular hijacking, terrorism, motor vehicle theft, forcible felonies, and highway safety while prohibiting use…

Iowa: § 321P.4

The operator of an automatic registration plate reader or any associated data storage device shall permanently delete from the plate reader and storage device, as applicable, every image of a vehicle registration plate captured by the plate reader, and any other accompanying data, no later than 30 days after the image was captured. Prior to deletion, data may be copied by law enforcement if relevant to an ongoing…

Kansas: § 45-221

Except to the extent disclosure is otherwise required by law, a public agency shall not be required to disclose records of a public agency that contain captured license plate data or that pertain to the location of an ALPR system. See also KS HB 2551 (2024) for a pilot program

Kentucky: § 189.632

ALPR use is unlawful except for authorized purposes which include regulating parking, controlling access to secured areas, promoting public safety, deterring crime, addressing auto theft, or conducting criminal investigations. Different agencies are authorized to use ALPR for different purposes. Data shall not be preserved for more than 90 days. Exceptions made for law enforcement for the purposes of evidence,…

Maine: 29-A MRSA § 2117-A

Prohibits the use of ALPR systems except by identified state and local governmental entities for certain public safety purposes, including protecting public safety and transportation infrastructure, commercial motor vehicle screening and inspection, and conducting criminal investigations and ensuring compliance with local, state and federal law. Authorized users may only use an ALPR system for official and…

Maryland: Public Safety Code § 3-509

Captured plate data can only be used for legitimate law enforcement purposes as defined in the statute including investigating crimes, violations of vehicle laws, terrorist or missing person searches/alerts. Historical license plate data cannot be sold, accessed by vendors without explicit authorization, or uploaded to other agencies/entities outside the state. Law enforcement agencies must adopt procedures for…

Minnesota: §13.82; § 13.824; § 626.8472

Limits the data that can be collected by ALPRs (plate number, date, time, location and pictures of plates, vehicles and surrounding areas), requires data destruction within 60 days unless related to an active investigation, prohibits a central state repository, restricts data sharing, mandates public logs and biennial audits, and establishes procedures for authorizing access to the data. ALPRs must not be used to…

Montana: § 46-5-117 to -119

Prohibits the use of ALPRs by an agency or employee of the state or any subdivision of the state on any public highway. Provides exceptions for specific agencies or purposes, including state or local law enforcement and the department of transportation, if specified requirements are met. Authorized use for planning, parking, ports of entry operations, and specified law enforcement uses including identifying vehicles…

Nebraska: §60-3201 to 3209

ALPR use is restricted to parking enforcement, controlling access to secured areas, electronic tolling, assisting weigh stations and law enforcement purposes, including outstanding traffic violations, unregistered or insured cars, vehicle equipment requirement violations, outstanding warrants, missing persons cases, stolen vehicle cases or when a vehicle is relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation. All other…

New Hampshire: § 261.75-b See also § 236.130 For surveillance generally.

ALPRs can only record license plates and not photograph vehicle occupants. The head of a law enforcement agency must authorize devices, administer documented training for officers, and maintain devices according to manufacturer’s recommendations. Agencies must register devices with the department of safety and certify compliance with requirements and required agency policies. Data must be updated daily through hard…

New Jersey: A.B. 4070 (2026)

Prohibits government entities from sharing, selling or transferring ALPR information. Information can be shared with government entities when permitted by law; when there is a valid judicial order/warrant; and to law enforcement agencies for the purpose of a criminal investigation, provided the agency certifies that the information will not be used for any civil immigration enforcement purpose, the information will…

New Mexico: § 29-22-1 to -5

ALPR users shall not sell, share, allow access to, or transfer data if they have reasonable belief, it may be used for immigration enforcement, investigating or prosecuting protected health care activity, or identifying or imposing liability based solely on participation in activities protected by the United States constitution or the constitution of New Mexico. ALPR users shall not allow access to data by an…

North Carolina: § 20-183.30 to .33

Requires state or local law enforcement agencies to adopt a written policy governing the use of an ALPR system before the system is operational. Requires policies to address databases used to compare data obtained by the system, data retention and sharing of data with other law enforcement agencies, system operator training, supervision of system use, and data security and access. Data obtained by a law enforcement…

Oregon: ORS § __. ___ [Added by 2026 c. 77 § 4 to 9]

Before deploying or using an ALPR, law enforcement agencies must establish and publish policies and procedures for the use of an ALPR and the use, storage, and retention of captured data. Policies must include requirements for system and data security, access controls, hot list of accuracy, authorized user training, data retention and destruction, audit processes, and prohibition on use that would violate state law.…

Tennessee: § 55-10-302; § 10-7-504 (32)(a)

Provides that any captured data collected by a government entity may not be stored for more than 90 days unless they are part of an ongoing investigation, and in that case provides data to be destroyed after the conclusion of the investigation. Captured plate data from ALPR systems must be treated as confidential and shall not be open for inspection by members of the public.

Utah: § 41-6a-2001 to 2006

A governmental entity may not use an ALPR system except as authorized by law for specified uses. Law enforcement agencies may access captured license plate data for active criminal investigations, apprehending individuals with outstanding warrants, locating missing or endangered persons, or locating stolen vehicles, and may access the Utah Criminal Justice Information System to verify vehicle registration, confirm…

Vermont: 23 V.S.A. § 1607 to 1608 (effective until July 1, 2025) 23 V.S.A. §1609 (effective July 2, 2025, or July 1, 2027)

Requires a law enforcement officer to be certified in the use of an ALPR by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council. ALPR use and active data access are restricted to legitimate law enforcement purposes, with active data accessible only within the past seven days by designated personnel with account access. Requests for active data must be in writing, include requester information and provide specific and articulable…

Virginia: § 2.2-5517

State law establishes certification requirements for vendors, mandates Division of Purchases and Supply approval of systems, restricts permissible uses to criminal investigations, missing or endangered person investigations, and certain notifications. Requires data retention limits of 21 days for system data and two years for audit trail data. Includes reporting requirements, public awareness measures, and criminal…

Washington: SB 6002 (2026)

Authorizes the use of ALPRs only for specific purposes. Law enforcement agencies may use ALPRs to compare plate data against state and federal databases to locate vehicles that are stolen, associated with a missing or endangered person, registered to someone with an outstanding felony or gross misdemeanor warrant or connected to a felony or gross misdemeanor investigation. Specifies parking enforcement agency use…

No ALPR-specific statute identified

Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

For your state's public-records law, see the Reporters Committee Open Government Guide. Know of a newer law? Send us the citation.