Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an executive order Wednesday placing new restrictions on the use and storage of automated license plate reader data, including information collected through Flock Safety cameras.
Executive Order 26-18 directs the Missouri Department of Public Safety to establish statewide safeguards for state agencies and state-funded local law enforcement agencies using automated license plate readers, while preserving their use for criminal investigations and other public safety purposes.
The order comes amid growing scrutiny of how law enforcement agencies use and retain data collected by the cameras. ALPR systems automatically capture license plate and vehicle information as motorists travel public roads and have become increasingly common among law enforcement agencies. Nationally, more than 141,000 ALPR cameras have been documented, with Flock Safety accounting for a large share of those devices.
Under the executive order, most license plate and vehicle data must be deleted within 30 days. Vendors will also be prohibited from selling, sharing or commercializing Missouri-generated data, while use of the technology will be limited to legitimate criminal justice and lifesaving purposes.
The order also requires accountability measures for misuse and prohibits the integration of facial-recognition artificial intelligence with ALPR systems.
“Protecting citizens also means protecting their constitutional rights,” Kehoe said. “The unchecked collection and indefinite storage of location data belonging to law-abiding citizens raises substantial, valid constitutional and privacy concerns.”
Kehoe said the state should not create a permanent record of where law-abiding Missourians travel, who they visit or how they live their daily lives.
The order directs DPS to establish penalties and reporting requirements for misuse. Improper use can trigger disciplinary proceedings, a criminal referral when appropriate and a mandatory report to the DPS director for potential officer license revocation or discipline.
DPS Director Mark James said ALPR systems remain valuable tools for recovering stolen vehicles, finding missing people and investigating violent crimes, but said the technology needs a clear legal framework.
“Governor Kehoe is making it clear that the state must establish a clear, accountable legal framework that equips law enforcement personnel with modern technology while also safeguarding the fundamental privacy rights and civil liberties of Missouri citizens,” James said.
The order comes as Missouri law enforcement agencies continue to use ALPR technology. Missouri’s Blue Shield program, for example, has previously funded license plate readers as part of grants for law enforcement equipment.
The governor’s order calls on local agencies to voluntarily follow the standards where existing contracts and law allow while the General Assembly works toward a permanent statutory framework.
Jake Kroesen serves as the Editor of the Missouri Times. He hails from Independence, Missouri and enjoys all things Jackson County. A graduate of UCM, he obtained his degree in Political Science.
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