Washington Sheriffs Warn New Law Will Harm Public Safety

Agencies turn off license plate readers due to privacy concerns, but law enforcement says it will decrease prosecution rates.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:30am

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A photorealistic painting of a lone ALPR camera mounted on a street light, casting long shadows across the pavement in warm, golden light, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation about the role of surveillance technology in modern society.As law enforcement grapples with new privacy rules, the future of automated license plate readers hangs in the balance.Olympia Today

Sheriffs and police chiefs across Washington state are turning off their agencies' automatic license plate reader (ALPR) systems in response to a new state law, Senate Bill 6002, which requires new guidelines around data sharing and retention. Law enforcement officials warn the law will make it 'nearly impossible' to continue using ALPR technology, which has helped solve crimes and find missing people, and say it will decrease prosecution rates.

Why it matters

The new law was passed to stop federal immigration authorities from accessing ALPR data and to rein in an expanding surveillance state, but some law enforcement leaders argue it goes too far and will negatively impact public safety. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between privacy concerns and the use of technology to aid law enforcement.

The details

Senate Bill 6002, signed by Governor Bob Ferguson, immediately required law enforcement agencies to implement new rules around their ALPR systems. While the law gained bipartisan support, some Republicans warned it could harm public safety. Agencies like the Spokane County Sheriff's Office and Pierce County Sheriff's Office have now turned off their ALPR systems, saying the new guidelines make the technology 'nearly impossible' to use effectively. The technology has helped solve crimes and find missing people, but some jurisdictions had already turned off their systems over concerns about immigration enforcement.

  • On Monday, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 6002 into law.
  • This week, Pierce and Spokane County confirmed they are turning off their ALPR systems due to SB 6002.
  • Last month, Seattle turned off its ALPR system at the direction of Mayor Katie Wilson in anticipation of SB 6002.

The players

Bob Ferguson

The governor of Washington who signed Senate Bill 6002 into law.

John Nowels

The Spokane County Sheriff who says SB 6002 has made it 'nearly impossible' to continue using ALPR technology.

Keith Swank

The Pierce County Sheriff who says the new law will decrease the county's solve rate and prosecution rate.

Katie Wilson

The mayor of Seattle who directed the city to turn off its ALPR system last month in anticipation of SB 6002.

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What they’re saying

“I believe some in the Legislature had good intentions, but unfortunately, it seems they did not completely understand ALPR technology, how effective it is, or the many ways it is used and not used.”

— John Nowels, Spokane County Sheriff

“I'm all for privacy, but I am also for solving crimes and finding missing loved ones. It's a balancing act. I am not saying this because 'I'm mad, and I'm taking my toys home.' … I am just letting you know our solve rate and prosecution rate will decrease.”

— Keith Swank, Pierce County Sheriff

What’s next

Nowels says he is consulting with attorneys to comply with SB 6002 before turning Spokane's ALPR system back on. He also plans to work with legislators and other law enforcement organizations to find a 'reasonable solution' to the 'unintended consequences' of the new law.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tension between privacy concerns and the use of technology to aid law enforcement. While the new law was intended to address surveillance and immigration enforcement issues, some law enforcement leaders argue it goes too far and will negatively impact public safety by making it difficult to use effective crime-fighting tools like ALPR systems.