Protect privacy: Tell lawmakers to strengthen and pass The Driver Privacy Act

Collage depicting surveillance, with a photo of traffic, a blue shape, and an automated license plate reader.
Collage depicting surveillance, with a photo of traffic, a blue shape, and an automated license plate reader.

Most recent signers:

The message:

We should all be alarmed by the ability of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) to watch and collect data on all of us as we go about our daily routines. What’s worse – Washington currently has no laws governing how public agencies, including law enforcement, use ALPRs. This means agencies can collect ALPR data on all of us and search that data for any reason, keep the data for an indefinite amount of time, and share it with out-of-state and federal agencies. Washington data has already been accessed by law enforcement in Texas in an abortion investigation, and by ICE and Border Patrol.

The recipients:

House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary

The impact:

Last week, the Senate passed legislation aimed at regulating automated license plate readers (ALPRs) – cameras that collect data on all of us as we drive and go about our daily routines, enabling the government to keep track of where people drive and when — all without their consent. The bad news: critical protections were stripped from the bill before it passed, putting our privacy further at risk.

In its current form, The Driver Privacy Act (ESSB 6002), no longer goes far enough in protecting privacy rights, and the bill must be strengthened to regulate government use of ALPRs and prevent risks to people’s privacy.

Right now, the House has an opportunity to make the bill stronger and protect our safety.

People deserve to drive around their communities without their daily routines being tracked by the government. Urge the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary to improve and pass the strongest possible version of the Driver Privacy Act.