HARRISBURG, Pa. — State Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin, plans to introduce legislation that would limit the routine collection and retention of motorists’ movements through automated license plate reader systems when there is no suspicion of wrongdoing.
Mastriano announced the proposal Thursday as lawmakers in both parties consider new restrictions on Flock Safety cameras and other automated license plate reader, or ALPR, systems.
ALPR systems photograph license plates and can retain information about vehicle locations and movements. Networked systems can place that information into searchable databases, allowing users to identify vehicles and review location data associated with them.
Mastriano’s proposal would apply to the technology itself rather than a specific company. It would prohibit routine collection and retention of motorists’ movements through automated license plate surveillance without suspicion of wrongdoing.
The legislation would include exceptions for law enforcement uses involving stolen vehicles, abducted children, wanted fugitives and vehicles connected to criminal investigations.
Mastriano, whose Senate district includes Franklin County, is among several lawmakers proposing new rules for the technology.
State Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, said Thursday that he plans to introduce legislation banning Flock Safety cameras and substantially similar networked ALPR systems in Pennsylvania. Laughlin said such systems can identify vehicles, catalog their movements and place that information into searchable networks that may be used to reconstruct where a person has traveled.
State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton, announced a separate proposal that would prohibit knowingly accessing or using an automated surveillance system, or information obtained through one, for an unauthorized personal or unlawful purpose.
Boscola’s proposal would allow use of the technology for criminal investigations, public-safety matters, missing-person cases, court-authorized purposes and other lawful official duties.
Gov. Josh Shapiro said Friday that he would support bipartisan legislation banning Flock cameras and similar automated license plate reader systems statewide.
“I would welcome bipartisan legislation to ban these across the state,” Shapiro said in response to a question from The Center Square.
Shapiro said Pennsylvania State Police does not use Flock cameras and that the cameras are not permitted on state property or Pennsylvania Department of Transportation roadways.
At least six bills concerning automated license plate reading systems have been introduced in the Pennsylvania House, according to Access Harrisburg. Some have bipartisan support.
Supporters of the technology say it can help law enforcement investigate crimes, recover stolen vehicles and locate missing people. Flock Safety said in its 2025 Impact Census that its technology supported more than 1 million investigations, assisted in 20% of cleared cases, helped locate more than 10,000 missing people and contributed to stolen-vehicle recoveries nationwide.
The debate is unfolding beyond Pennsylvania. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that 16 states have laws specifically addressing automated license plate reader use.
