Troy Passes First Local Law Regulating Automatic License Plate Readers in New York

TROY, NY – Last night, the Troy City Council became the first local legislature to pass legislation to rein in highly invasive, unregulated automatic license plate reader (ALPR) technology in the state. Now, local law enforcement can only use ALPRs for clearly defined law enforcement purposes, only hold ALPR data in most cases for 72 hours, and is prohibited from sharing any data without explicit judicial authorization.

In response, the New York Civil Liberties Union issued the following statement from Senior Privacy & Technology Strategist Daniel Schwarz:

“As automatic license plate reader technology explodes across the country, last night Troy took a meaningful step to protect people’s freedom to live without constant, warrantless surveillance.

“Whether it’s driving to the grocery store or a doctor’s office, for years, Troy law enforcement have used ALPRs to track local drivers’ every move. The technology has created detailed travel histories of every passerby, stored their data excessively, and shared it without restrictions — all without any legal guardrails or oversight. In fact, between 2024 and 2026, agencies across the country searched Troy’s ALPR data over 12 million times.

“We applaud the Troy City Council, but there are still unacceptable gaps like loosened use restriction standards and the potential for excessive data retention. The NYCLU will be monitoring closely to ensure rigorous oversight and that these loopholes are not abused.

“But make no mistake: Albany lawmakers still need to pass statewide legislation to curb ALPR technology. All New Yorkers deserve to move and live freely without big brother always watching them.”

###