Ferguson described Washington's new license plate reader restrictions as a balance between police use and privacy.
Bob FergusonBob Ferguson, sitting state governor
Ferguson described Washington's new license plate reader restrictions as a balance between police use and privacy.
“strikes a balance”
Reporting

Where this statement fits
Should Flock-style license-plate surveillance networks exist?
Networked automated license-plate readers record passing vehicles and let agencies search or share travel records across locations. Candidates and officials disagree over whether to prohibit these networks, keep them with legal limits, or defend their use for investigations. This tracker records attributable positions on that choice, including proposals that would affect only public funding or data access.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Ferguson spoke while signing Senate Bill 6002 on March 30, 2026.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Ferguson spoke while signing Senate Bill 6002 on March 30, 2026.
After the quotation
The law permits specified investigations, limits most retention to 21 days and bars uses including immigration enforcement. Critics sought tighter restrictions.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Ferguson supports continued use under concrete statutory restrictions. His endorsement covers the qualified use authorized by the law rather than unrestricted surveillance.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Flock Safety
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Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Ferguson described Washington's new license plate reader restrictions as a balance between police use and privacy.
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/3569-ferguson-described-washington-s-new-license-plate-reader
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Ferguson described Washington's new license plate reader restrictions as a balance between police use and privacy.". First published: 2026-09-30. Last updated: 2026-09-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/3569-ferguson-described-washington-s-new-license-plate-reader