Maricopa County sheriff calls for felony penalties for misuse of license plate reader data
Sheriff Jerry Sheridan wants state lawmakers to criminalize misuse of license plate reader data as officer abuse cases mount across the Valley.
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 03: An aerial view of a Flock Safety camera mounted to a light pole on August 03, 2026 in Burbank, California. Flock Safety's automated license plate reader cameras have been deployed in over 120,000 locations across 49 states, using artificial intelligence to identify vehicles by their license plates, make, model and color to help law enforcement investigate crimes, while also drawing criticism from privacy advocates over concerns about mass surveillance and the collection of motorists' location data. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan wants the misuse of license plate reader data to be a felony, bringing penalties in line with existing punishment for similar violations.
“I would like to see the Arizona Legislation make it a felony to misuse the (license plate reader) information, just as it is with (Criminal Justice Information Services) information,” Sheridan said Friday on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show.
The proposal comes as law enforcement agencies across the Valley grapple with employee misuse of the surveillance technology. An Apache Junction officer resigned last week after using the system to track his wife and Chandler police are investigating an employee for potential misuse of the cameras.
Sheridan said his office has 304 deputies and detectives authorized to access the system and that any employee who violates the policies would be fired. He said criminal consequences are needed as a stronger deterrent.
“There’s always a very small few out there that will misuse it for one reason or another,” Sheridan said.
Unlike Pinal County, which announced this month it would not renew its contract with camera vendor Flock Safety, Sheridan said Maricopa County will still use the technology. The agency limits data sharing to Arizona law enforcement and has changed their policy to only keep the recordings for seven days.
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Comments
1 Comments
It is amazing how many police officers have abused this system. What other abuses have the done? How many cases have been swept under the rug?
All of this attention to these cameras makes it almost impossible for Bowlingballhead to ignore.
Now, what does it take for him to finally see all the baggage associated with the man he proudly voted for three times!?!
Endless war in the Middle East--
Lack of tact in most of his comments and dealings with others--
January 6, 2021and the complete pardons that would follow--
ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND--
Bankrupt of empathy and compassion for most Americans and his own soldiers.