Michigan Lawmakers Aim to Regulate Automatic License Plate Readers

Bipartisan bill package seeks to address privacy concerns around the use of plate-scanning cameras

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Michigan lawmakers are proposing a bipartisan bill package to regulate the use of automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) - cameras that capture and store images of vehicles. Currently, there are no regulations governing the use of these plate-scanning cameras in the state.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation aims to address growing privacy concerns around the potential for mass surveillance and misuse of data collected by these ALPR systems, which have become increasingly prevalent in both law enforcement and private sector applications.

The details

The bill package, introduced by State Reps. Jimmie Wilson Jr. (D-Ypsilanti) and Doug Wozniak (R-Shelby Township), would establish guidelines for how ALPR data can be collected, stored, and used in Michigan. The goal is to ensure the technology is "used to improve public safety, not to enable routine mass surveillance."

  • The bipartisan bill package was introduced in the Michigan legislature in February 2026.

The players

Jimmie Wilson Jr.

A Democratic state representative from Ypsilanti, Michigan who co-sponsored the ALPR regulation bill package.

Doug Wozniak

A Republican state representative from Shelby Township, Michigan who co-sponsored the ALPR regulation bill package.

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What they’re saying

“Automatic license plate readers should be used to improve public safety, not to enable routine mass surveillance.”

— Jimmie Wilson Jr., State Representative (Michigan Live)

What’s next

The bipartisan bill package will now go through the Michigan legislative process, with committee hearings and votes in both the state House and Senate before potentially being signed into law by the governor.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation in Michigan reflects growing concerns nationwide about the privacy implications of widespread automatic license plate reader technology and the need to establish clear guidelines on its appropriate use by law enforcement and other entities.