TL;DR: Washington's Driver Privacy Act (SB 6002) passed the Senate 40-9 on February 4 and cleared the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee on February 24. The bill bans ICE from accessing license plate reader data, limits retention to 21 days, prohibits cameras near schools and churches, and makes violations a gross misdemeanor. If signed, Washington will have some of the strictest ALPR regulations in the country. A full House vote is expected soon.
The Bill Moves Forward
Senator Yasmin Trudeau's Driver Privacy Act is on track to become law. After passing the Senate 40-9 on February 4, the House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee took executive action on the bill February 24 [1].
The bill addresses a problem that exploded into view last year: at least eight Washington law enforcement agencies were sharing Flock Safety license plate data directly with U.S. Border Patrol and ICE [2]. No oversight. No consent. Your license plate scanned at a grocery store in Spokane, potentially flagged by federal immigration agents.
The University of Washington documented the unauthorized sharing. Now the legislature is responding.
What the Bill Actually Does
SB 6002 creates the first comprehensive ALPR regulatory framework in Washington. The restrictions are specific:
21-Day Data Retention
Agencies must delete ALPR data within 21 days, the second-shortest retention period of any state, and the shortest among states where these cameras actually operate [3].
ICE Ban
Explicitly prohibits using ALPR data for immigration investigation or enforcement. No loopholes. No "memoranda of understanding" to work around it.
Location Restrictions
ALPRs cannot be placed near schools, places of worship, courthouses, or food banks. Stops the cameras from creating comprehensive maps of sensitive locations.
Protected Activities
Bans tracking people engaged in constitutionally protected activities: free speech, protests, religious practice. Your attendance at a rally isn't law enforcement business.
Specialized data gets even shorter limits:
- 4 hours for commercial vehicle enforcement
- 12 hours for parking enforcement
- 30 days for traffic studies
Teeth in the Law
ALPR regulations without enforcement are worthless. SB 6002 has teeth:
- Criminal penalties: Willful violations are gross misdemeanors
- Civil liability: Injured parties can sue for damages, injunctions, and attorney fees
- Access logs: All data access must be logged so compliance can be monitored and investigated
- Sharing restrictions: Data cannot be shared with other agencies except in judicial proceedings
That last point is critical. The whole Flock Safety business model depends on agencies sharing data across jurisdictions, creating a de facto national surveillance network. Washington is saying no.
Why This Matters Now
License plate readers aren't hypothetical surveillance anymore. Flock Safety alone operates cameras in cities across Washington. The company claims its network scans over 20 billion plates monthly nationwide.
In November 2025, investigative reporting revealed that Washington agencies were sharing this data with Border Patrol without telling anyone [4]. The cameras your city council approved for "stolen vehicle recovery" were feeding a federal immigration database.
Other states are moving too. Oregon cities are abandoning Flock Safety contracts over ICE concerns. Milwaukee just banned facial recognition after public outcry. The Ring-Flock partnership collapsed under pressure.
Washington's bill goes further than most. It doesn't just restrict. It creates a framework with real consequences for violations.
Who Opposes It
Law enforcement pushed back on the original retention limits. The bill was amended to extend retention from a shorter period to 21 days after agencies argued they needed more time to identify relevant data for felony investigations.
Some conservative groups oppose the bill entirely, arguing it restricts legitimate law enforcement tools [5]. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs raised concerns during hearings.
But the Senate vote (40-9) shows bipartisan support. Senators Trudeau, Holy, Alvarado, Bateman, Chapman, Conway, Dhingra, Frame, Hasegawa, Kauffman, Lovelett, Nobles, Pedersen, Shewmake, Slatter, Stanford and Valdez all signed on as sponsors.
What Happens Next
The House Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee took executive action on February 24. A full House vote is expected in the coming days. Given the strong Senate support and committee advancement, passage looks likely.
The bill contains an emergency clause: it takes effect immediately upon signing, not at the end of the legislative session.
If Governor Jay Inslee signs it, agencies with existing ALPR contracts will need to comply immediately. That means renegotiating data sharing agreements, implementing retention limits, and disconnecting from federal sharing arrangements.
What You Can Do
If You're in Washington
Contact your state representative. Tell them to vote yes on SB 6002. The bill has momentum. Keep the pressure on.
Track Your City's ALPR Use
File a public records request to find out if your city uses Flock Safety or other ALPR systems. See our surveillance database request guide.
Support the ACLU-WA
The ACLU of Washington has been pushing for ALPR regulations for years. Their advocacy helped make this bill possible [6].
Model Legislation
If your state doesn't have ALPR restrictions, use Washington's bill as a template. The provisions are specific and enforceable.
The Bottom Line
Washington is about to have some of the strictest license plate surveillance rules in the country. 21-day retention limits. ICE access banned. Criminal penalties for violations. Restrictions near schools and churches.
After years of unregulated Flock Safety expansion (and the discovery that local cops were feeding data to federal immigration agents), the legislature is finally setting rules.
The bill passed the Senate 40-9. It cleared the House committee. A floor vote is coming. If you're in Washington, this is the moment to make sure your representative knows you're watching.
References
- Washington State Legislature: SB 6002 Bill Summary
- The Nexus: #waleg 2026: Surveillance, Privacy, AI, and Age Verification Legislation Overview
- KOMO News: Bill to Prohibit License Plate Readers from ICE Use Passes WA Senate (February 2026)
- Washington Senate Democrats: License Plate Surveillance Bill Passes Senate (February 4, 2026)
- Conservative Ladies of Washington: Bill Alert: SB 6002
- ACLU of Washington: Driver Privacy Act