Glenwood Springs Restricts Access to Police License Plate Data

City blocks outside agencies from accessing data collected by license plate cameras.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The city of Glenwood Springs, Colorado has announced it has blocked outside law enforcement agencies from accessing data collected by the city's license plate recognition cameras. This measure, according to city officials, addresses privacy concerns recently raised by residents and the City Council.

Why it matters

The use of automated license plate readers by law enforcement has raised privacy concerns in many communities, as the technology can collect and store large amounts of data on people's movements without their knowledge or consent. Glenwood Springs' decision to restrict access to this data reflects a growing trend of cities and towns trying to balance public safety needs with individual privacy rights.

The details

The change took effect on February 11 following a review of the city's data-sharing practices related to the Flock automated license plate recognition system, according to a statement from the city. Previously, the data collected by the cameras was accessible to other law enforcement agencies, but now it will only be available to the Glenwood Springs Police Department.

  • The change took effect on February 11, 2026.

The players

Glenwood Springs

A city in Colorado that has restricted outside access to data collected by its police department's license plate recognition cameras.

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The takeaway

Glenwood Springs' decision to limit access to its license plate reader data highlights the ongoing debate over the use of this technology and the need to balance public safety with individual privacy. As more communities grapple with these issues, we may see more cities follow Glenwood Springs' lead in restricting data sharing to protect their residents' privacy.