Why It Matters
Gov. Dan McKee extended Rhode Island’s pause on new automated license plate reader installations indefinitely while assigning the General Assembly responsibility for creating binding statewide safeguards.
What Happened
McKee directed the Department of Public Safety to review the use of Flock cameras and related license plate reader technology. The order, issued Aug. 18, assigned Col. Darnell Weaver to consult the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association, the League of Cities and Towns, and other stakeholders.
Weaver presented recommendations to McKee’s office at 10 a.m., and the governor’s office announced them at 4:08 p.m. The Rhode Island State Police developed an interim framework for local police departments.
The proposed policy would require departments to delete license plate data within 30 days unless the information is preserved for an investigation. It would also bar camera use for federal immigration enforcement, traffic violations, outstanding fines, civil infractions, and conduct that is not criminalized under Rhode Island law.
The framework would prohibit uses that infringe First Amendment rights, discriminate against protected groups, or interfere with reproductive rights. Police could access camera data for criminal investigations involving reasonable suspicion of a state or federal crime.
“Automated license plate readers can be a valuable tool for law enforcement, but we need to make sure they’re being used responsibly and that people’s privacy is protected,” McKee said.
By the Numbers
Monday — original end date of the pause on new installations
Aug. 18 — date McKee ordered the Department of Public Safety review
60-day — length of the comprehensive review
30 days — proposed data-deletion period unless data is preserved for an investigation
At least 280 — estimated number of cameras statewide
Zoom Out
Rhode Island municipalities and state police have contracted independently with Flock since 2021. Privacy advocates sought a seven-day retention limit in a letter sent to Weaver on Oct. 9. Flock Safety previously used a 30-day retention limit and later reduced it to seven days.
Providence city councilors have proposed ending the city’s relationship with Flock. Weaver said the proposed model policy would establish standards for technology use, data access and sharing, and agency accountability.
What’s Next
The General Assembly is expected to address statewide safeguards during the 2027 legislative session. Until then, Rhode Island State Police’s interim framework provides proposed rules for local departments while the pause remains in place.