Mayor Yemi Mobolade of Colorado Springs said on Apr. 27 that proposed legislation in the Colorado General Assembly, known as Senate Bill 70, could limit law enforcement’s ability to use automated license plate reader technology. The mayor described public safety as a core responsibility of local government and emphasized the importance of providing first responders with effective tools.
Mobolade said the city has invested in various technologies to improve emergency response times and outcomes, including drones and a Real Time Crime Center. He highlighted automated license plate readers, which have been used by the Colorado Springs Police Department since 2009, as one of the most effective tools for locating stolen vehicles, identifying suspects, and tracking vehicles linked to crimes.
According to Mobolade, Senate Bill 70 would require officers to obtain warrants before accessing historical location data from license plate readers in many cases and would impose strict limits on how long such information can be kept. He said these changes could make it harder for police to respond quickly during emergencies such as child abductions or hit-and-run incidents.
Mobolade cited a recent example where officers used license plate reader data to find a missing two-year-old child within two hours after an Amber Alert was issued. “In situations like this, the ability to search immediately can mean the difference between rescue and tragedy,” he said.
The mayor also addressed privacy concerns by stating that cameras only capture images of vehicles on public roads and that strict policies are in place regarding access to this information. “Public safety and privacy are not mutually exclusive,” Mobolade said. He called on lawmakers to work with local governments toward balanced policies that protect both community safety and civil liberties.
