The FLAFO Act would restrict federal agencies from buying, leasing, operating, or accessing covered automated license plate reader systems. It would also bar agencies from requesting information from these systems or providing information to them. Agencies could access information or make a request with a warrant, or without one in certain cases, such as locating a missing person or responding to an immediate danger. The bill includes exceptions for specified Secret Service, Customs and Border Protection, and national security activities.
Federal employees who knowingly violate the restrictions could face criminal and civil penalties. People harmed by violations could sue. Operators of covered systems could also face penalties for knowingly providing federal agencies with unauthorized access or information. To qualify for Department of Justice funds, states, local governments, and Indian Tribes would have to adopt similar requirements for their agencies.
The bill could limit when federal agencies can obtain vehicle-location information from certain networked license plate reader systems. It also sets conditions for state, local, and tribal governments seeking Department of Justice funds. The bill does not describe how often these rules would affect individuals.
No publicly available information.
The bill's findings say that broad collection and sharing of vehicle-location data could reveal people's movements and associations and threaten privacy and constitutional rights. They describe the bill as a way to protect civil liberties.
No publicly available information.