Colorado Bill Would Limit License Plate Reader Access to Three Days

Context Senate Bill 26‑070 advanced from the Senate Appropriations committee on Tuesday and now heads to the full Senate for a vote. Sponsored by Sen. Lynda Zamora‑Wilson (R‑El Paso County), the bill aims to add guardrails to automatic license‑plate reader (ALPR) systems amid concerns they create a surveillance state. Colorado Springs Police Deputy Chief Jeff Jensen described the technology as a snapshot of a vehicle at a specific location, noting the city operates 140 ALPR cameras among 30,000 street lights.

Key Facts Under the bill, police may use ALPR data for only three days before obtaining a search warrant, and all data must be deleted after 30 days unless part of an active investigation. Jensen warned that seeking a warrant for a vague description—such as a gray pickup truck—would fail the specificity a judge requires, citing a recent sexual‑assault case where officers matched grainy video to a suspect’s vehicle after hours of database comparison. Zamora‑Wilson said her constituents worry the program is turning Colorado into a surveillance state and stressed the need to balance law‑enforcement tools with privacy protections.

What It Means Law‑enforcement groups argue the three‑day limit would hinder timely investigations, especially when leads are vague or develop slowly. Privacy advocates contend the limits curb potential overreach and align ALPR use with Fourth‑Amendment safeguards. If the full Senate passes the bill, it will proceed to the House and then to the governor’s desk, where a signature or veto will determine its fate.

Watch for the full Senate vote later this week and any subsequent amendments that could alter the three‑day window or deletion timeline.