Morgan Griffith cosponsors federal ALPR prohibition
Morgan GriffithU.S. representative from Virginia
Morgan Griffith cosponsored the Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act, H.R. 9800, which would bar federal agencies from using plate-reader systems, including Flock cameras, and bar state and local governments from spending federal funds on them.
“No Federal agency may purchase, deploy, operate, access, or contract for any automated surveillance system that identifies, tracks, or records individuals through any of the following: (1) An automated license plate recognition system, including a Flock Safety camera.”
Original text
Original text
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
Original text
About this source
Burchett's introduced bill would bar federal agencies from using ALPR systems and bar state and local governments from spending federal funds on them.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Original text
About this source
Congress.gov's cosponsor list for H.R. 9800, the Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act sponsored by Rep. Tim Burchett. It records Rep. Josh Brecheen joining on August 13, 2026, Rep. Tom Barrett on September 1, 2026, and Rep. Morgan Griffith on September 2, 2026, among other cosponsors.
Before the quotation
Griffith joined the Protection Against Mass Surveillance Act, H.R. 9800, introduced by Rep. Tim Burchett, as a cosponsor on September 2, 2026, according to Congress.gov.
After the quotation
The bill would also bar state, local and Tribal governments from using federal funds for such systems, and it covers facial recognition and other biometric surveillance.
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. Griffith cosponsored a bill that would prohibit federal use of plate-reader systems and federal funding for state and local systems. It would not reach every state or local system, which fits Mixed or conditional.
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More from this case
Read the full caseNanette Barragán says the lack of federal limits on plate-reader data "is not acceptable"
“Right now, there are few meaningful federal limits on how this kind of data is collected, stored, or shared. There is also a failure to hold companies accountable or put strict rules in place on the use and collection of data. That is not acceptable. When there are no real limits on who can access this data, it becomes easier for agencies like ICE to use it against immigrant families and working communities, the very people our public safety systems should be protecting, not putting at risk. This is about more than privacy. It is about whether people can go to work, visit a doctor, or move through their communities without being tracked and having that information used against them. We can have public safety and privacy. What we cannot have is a surveillance state that tracks people without accountability, and I will keep pushing in Congress to close that gap.”Read statement
Robert Murray asks to move his Flock position to "Ban or remove"
“Please change my answer to "Ban or remove"”Read statement
Delegate May Nivar welcomes Henrico and Goochland moving away from Flock and calls for safeguards
“I’m encouraged that Henrico and Goochland have each decided to move away from Flock cameras after hearing residents’ concerns about privacy and accountability. Public safety and privacy are not competing values. Law enforcement needs effective tools, but those tools must be used responsibly and with appropriate safeguards. ... As the General Assembly revisits this issue next session, we must work toward the right balance between public safety, privacy, accountability, and the authority of local communities to make decisions that reflect their residents’ values.”Read statement
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- The Dispute Index
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- Morgan Griffith cosponsors federal ALPR prohibition
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- https://disputeindex.com/events/4921-morgan-griffith-cosponsored-the-protection-against-mass-surveillance
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The Dispute Index. "Morgan Griffith cosponsors federal ALPR prohibition". First published: 2026-10-06. Last updated: 2026-10-06. https://disputeindex.com/events/4921-morgan-griffith-cosponsored-the-protection-against-mass-surveillance