On March 30, 2026, Gov. Bob Ferguson signed Washington's first statewide rules for automated license plate reading cameras, touching off a fierce debate over how far the state should go in tracking drivers. The new law sets limits on where cameras can be installed, who can search the data and how long records can stick around. Supporters frame it as a sensible compromise that preserves investigative tools, while critics say it effectively greenlights mass surveillance.
According to The Seattle Times, Ferguson said the bill "strikes a balance" between public safety and protecting sensitive information. The Times reports that the measure includes an emergency clause, which means the law takes effect immediately.
As detailed in the bill text from the Washington State Legislature, the statute bars agencies from using automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems for immigration investigations and forbids placing cameras near health care facilities, courts and other sensitive locations. It also requires agencies that use ALPRs to register their systems with the attorney general, maintain audit trails of queries and tightly limit how captured data can be shared. The enacted law includes criminal penalties and a private right of action for violations, according to the same text.
In a 2025 report, the University of Washington Center for Human Rights found that federal immigration agencies queried Flock Safety camera databases connected to at least 18 local law enforcement networks. Researchers reported that those searches, sometimes enabled by default data-sharing settings, showed how vendor and agency practices can expose Washington residents to scrutiny from out-of-state authorities.
Critics Say The Law Falls Short
Privacy advocates concede that the law finally draws some lines, especially around immigration enforcement, but they argue that the fine print leaves troubling gaps. "These safeguards do not go far enough," Tee Sannon of the ACLU of Washington told The Seattle Times, warning that broad search permissions and vendors' default sharing settings still put vulnerable people at risk.
Amendments Widened Police Search Powers
The law that reached Ferguson's desk was not the same one that first landed in Olympia. House amendments broadened who could be searched in ALPR databases and how those searches could work. Agencies may now search by vehicle characteristics and use ALPR data in investigations of certain gross misdemeanors, not only felonies, according to the Washington State Legislature's bill report. Lawmakers adopted those changes after cities and law enforcement organizations pushed for technical fixes that would preserve what they described as essential investigative tools.
Local Fallout And Next Steps
On the ground, the new rules are already reshaping local decisions. Across Washington, cities are reassessing contracts and internal policies. In Lynnwood, the city council voted in February to cancel its Flock Safety contract after a heated privacy fight. Other municipalities have paused camera rollouts or ordered audits as agencies scramble to register systems, update their playbooks and verify that vendor settings line up with the statute.
What Comes Next
The rollout will not be simple. Cities now have 180 days to register ALPR systems, conduct audits and rewrite policies, all while fielding questions from residents who are just learning how many cameras are already watching local streets. Privacy groups have promised to monitor compliance closely and, if needed, take vendors or agencies to court. As the Washington Association of Cities noted, the combination of criminal penalties and a private right of action means judges may ultimately decide exactly how far these new guardrails reach.
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