Rep. Suzan DelBene says license plate readers need clear, transparent rules and accountability for misuse
Suzan DelBeneU.S. representative for Washington's 1st district, in an emailed statement from her office
Rep. Suzan DelBene said in a statement sent by her office that the law has not kept up with technology, leaving Americans' personal information open to unregulated collection and abuse by companies and government. She cited the benefits of license plate readers for law enforcement and called for a national consumer data protection law and regulations that ensure the tools are used transparently, with accountability for misuse.
“We need regulations that ensure these tools are used in a clear, transparent way and that violations or misuse come with accountability.”
Emailed statement
Read the full email
Our laws are not keeping up with how technology is advancing. That leaves the personal information of millions of Americans vulnerable to unregulated collection and abuse by private companies and the government. I’ve been a strong advocate of a national consumer data protection law. This would help protect Americans’ civil liberties while balancing the benefits of new technologies, like ALPRs, that can help law enforcement better protect our communities. We need regulations that ensure these tools are used in a clear, transparent way and that violations or misuse come with accountability.
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
Emailed statement
Emailed statement from Rep. Suzan DelBene to Dispute Index on license plate readers
Our laws are not keeping up with how technology is advancing. That leaves the personal information of millions of Americans vulnerable to unregulated collection and abuse by private companies and the government. I’ve been a strong advocate of a national consumer data protection law. This would help protect Americans’ civil liberties while balancing the benefits of new technologies, like ALPRs, that can help law enforcement better protect our communities. We need regulations that ensure these tools are used in a clear, transparent way and that violations or misuse come with accountability.
About this source
Nick Martin of Rep. Suzan DelBene's office sent this statement by email in reply to a Dispute Index request for comment, attributing it to DelBene. The link is to her House website; the statement itself is not published there. The text is reproduced as sent.
Before the quotation
Dispute Index asked DelBene's office whether she supports, opposes or wants changes to Flock-style license plate camera networks. Her office replied with a statement that opens, "Our laws are not keeping up with how technology is advancing." She said a national consumer data protection law would protect civil liberties "while balancing the benefits of new technologies, like ALPRs, that can help law enforcement better protect our communities."
After the quotation
This is the closing sentence of the statement, which is signed "Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01)."
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. DelBene credits the readers with helping law enforcement but warns of unregulated collection and abuse, and supports their use only with clear, transparent rules and accountability for misuse, so we labeled it Mixed or conditional. Keeping the readers under general regulation fits the Guardrails step.
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More from this case
Read the full caseStephen Hamilton says he opposes Flock cameras and that government "should not be building a searchable record of where innocent people travel"
“I oppose Flock cameras because privacy should apply to everyone—including the people who build and operate surveillance technology. If the people behind these systems believe their own photographs, personal information, or movements deserve protection, then why should ordinary Coloradans be treated differently? Government should not be building a searchable record of where innocent people travel. Tell law enforcement to do the job they were hired to do—investigate crimes, pursue criminals, and protect the public without turning every citizen into a surveillance target.”Read statement
Michael Addison would keep Flock cameras for criminal investigations under statewide safeguards, including judicial approval for prolonged tracking
“I would support these networks only when enforceable safeguards protect both.”Read statement
Andrea James calls Flock-style surveillance networks an unacceptable intrusion into privacy
“Flock-style surveillance networks represent an unacceptable intrusion into privacy”Read statement
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Rep. Suzan DelBene says license plate readers need clear, transparent rules and accountability for misuse
- First published
- Last updated
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- https://disputeindex.com/events/4627-rep-suzan-delbene-said-in-a-statement-sent
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Rep. Suzan DelBene says license plate readers need clear, transparent rules and accountability for misuse". First published: 2026-10-05. Last updated: 2026-10-05. https://disputeindex.com/events/4627-rep-suzan-delbene-said-in-a-statement-sent