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Automated License Plate Reader Policy Release [Vote expected at tonight's Town Meeting]
A teenager leaves with someone they met online. An elderly resident falls victim to a phone or email scam, and a courier comes to town to collect thousands of dollars in cash. A suspect drives away after a house break or domestic violence incident.
In each situation, identifying a vehicle can be the lead that moves the investigation forward.
Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) help make that connection. Surveillance cameras can help, but they don’t consistently capture enough detail to identify a vehicle. ALPR cameras are designed to capture license plates and allow investigators to search vehicle characteristics when a complete plate is unknown.
Here in Medway, ALPRs have helped bring missing people home, kept victims safe, and provided critical leads in investigations that otherwise might have gone unsolved.
Our position is regulation, not elimination. We support clear rules, meaningful oversight, and accountability as this technology evolves. Eliminating ALPRs altogether would take away an important tool for finding missing people, solving crimes, and preventing further victimization.
We recognize the community’s concerns. Our updated ALPR policy establishes:
• Restricted access: Access is limited to trained, authorized users. Personal searches are prohibited.
• Accountability: Cameras automatically record passing vehicles; officers do not review each detection. Searches must relate to public safety or criminal investigations, require a documented reason, and are logged and subject to quarterly audits. Misuse can result in loss of access, discipline up to termination, and criminal charges when applicable, just like any database misuse.
• Privacy safeguards: Searches likely to reveal detailed travel patterns require supervisory review and, when appropriate, legal consultation to determine whether judicial authorization is necessary.
• Limited retention: Routine data is automatically deleted after 30 days. Relevant evidence must be preserved separately.
• Controlled sharing: Standing access is limited to selected New England and East Coast law-enforcement partners, excluding federal agencies and agencies in states with conflicting health-care laws. Civil immigration enforcement is prohibited. Sharing permissions are reviewed periodically. We are developing a memorandum of understanding with agencies we share with to ensure they follow our policies.
An ALPR record is an investigative lead, not proof of wrongdoing. A detection on a public road does not establish a vehicle’s destination or purpose. Officers must verify the information and obtain additional evidence to link a vehicle to a crime.
We believe we can protect privacy while preserving technology that helps protect our community. We welcome public comments, questions, and recommendations through Chief Kingsbury (WKingsbury@Medwaypolice.com) or the Department’s ALPR Manager, Detective Sergeant Swarthout (LSwarthout@Medwaypolice.com).
Read our full policy: https://medwayma.gov/departments/police-department/policies/
