Atlanta eyes citywide rules for license plate readers

The latest: Mayor Andre Dickens will introduce an ordinance next week to codify "existing privacy, oversight and accountability standards" that outline how ALPRs are used, his office said Tuesday in a news release.

• The ordinance would create citywide guardrails based on protocols established by the Atlanta Police Department.

Zoom in: Dickens' legislation would spell out authorized or prohibited uses, who can access these systems, how data is collected and shared and require monthly internal audits for "high-risk law enforcement systems" and quarterly reporting on internal audits and findings.

• The city said in the release that the new legislation would also ban discriminatory or "viewpoint-based use" of cameras and ALPRs.

What they're saying: "Public safety is not a blank check, and neither is privacy an excuse to deny law enforcement tools that can help save lives and solve crimes," Dickens said in a statement.

State of play: Dickens' legislation comes weeks after the mayor requested that Atlanta police audit 115,578 searches of Flock's ALPRs from this year.

• In a Sept. 10 letter written by Atlanta police Chief Darin Schierbaum, 79 of those searches were flagged for investigation to determine if they violate any policies or training protocols.

• The police department said that probe should be completed within the next two months.
• In the meantime, Schierbaum said APD has revised its own standards around LPRs, including restricting access through retired reserve officer accounts.

What's next: Dickens plans to introduce the legislation at the City Council's Sept. 21 meeting. Once introduced, the legislation will go through the Council's committee process.

• Dickens' administration also said it will ask the council to schedule a work session and public hearing to collect input from residents, with the goal of approving the legislation within 60 days after it's introduced.