Homer Glen Approves Limits on License Plate Reader Data Storage

New policy balances public safety and privacy concerns by restricting data retention to 7 days.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 4:12pm

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A close-up view of a license plate reader camera mounted on a streetlight pole, the device's sensors and housing casting long shadows across the pavement in the warm glow of the afternoon sun, evoking a sense of quiet contemplation about the role of surveillance technology in modern society.Homer Glen's new limits on license plate reader data aim to balance public safety and privacy concerns in the community.Homer Glen Today

The Homer Glen Village Board has approved a new policy that will limit the data storage from its license plate reader cameras to 7 days, down from the typical 30-90 days in most communities. The agreement with the Will County Sheriff's Office also restricts the sharing of this data to only within Illinois. This move aims to address residents' concerns over privacy and surveillance while still allowing the cameras to assist in criminal investigations and locating missing persons.

Why it matters

License plate readers have become a controversial tool, with critics arguing they create a mass surveillance network that tracks innocent people's daily movements. By limiting the data retention and sharing, Homer Glen is trying to find a balance between public safety and privacy rights.

The details

Under the new policy, data collected from Homer Glen's 12 license plate reader cameras will be stored for only 7 days, much shorter than the 30-90 day retention periods common in other communities. The agreement also restricts the sharing of this data to only within Illinois, preventing it from being accessed by federal agencies. The policy does allow for exceptions, such as preserving data for a criminal investigation or with a valid court order.

  • In December 2025, the Homer Glen Village Board approved the installation of 12 license plate reader cameras.
  • In 2023, Homer Glen residents voted against installing the Flock license plate reader system in an advisory referendum.

The players

Homer Glen Village Board

The local government body that approved the new policy limiting license plate reader data storage and sharing.

Will County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that provides police services to Homer Glen and will have access to the license plate reader data.

Robert Schaller

A Homer Glen trustee who said that 30-day data retention was seen as too much like 'Big Brother' by residents.

Mike Lepore

A Homer Glen trustee who voted against the license plate reader agreement, calling it government overreach.

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What they’re saying

“In most communities, data from the cameras is stored 30 to 90 days. But Homer Glen residents have expressed concern keeping the data for 30 days was too much like 'Big Brother'.”

— Robert Schaller, Homer Glen Trustee

“It was government overreach.”

— Mike Lepore, Homer Glen Trustee

What’s next

The Homer Glen Village Board is also considering updating its Long Run Creek watershed action plan, which could help identify areas in need of improvements like vegetation management or bank stabilization.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tension between public safety and privacy concerns when it comes to the use of surveillance technologies like license plate readers. Homer Glen's new policy aims to strike a balance, but the debate over the appropriate use of these tools is likely to continue.