A bill from an independent · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill prohibits the Federal Government from using automatic license plate readers or related data without explicit statutory authorization. It cuts off specific Federal grants from State and local governments unless they also ban the use of these license plate readers. The legislation bans the use of Federal funds to purchase, lease, or operate automatic license plate readers or to access data collected by them. There are strict exceptions included for the collection of highway and road tolls. Violations of the federal prohibitions can lead to civil lawsuits, damages, and penalties for officials.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +9
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
The legislation establishes comprehensive restrictions on government tracking of individuals via license plate readers and creates a private right of action for aggrieved individuals.
- Scored +8
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The legislation protects citizen data privacy by banning the collection, retention, and sharing of captured license plate data by federal agencies and limiting toll data usage.
- Scored +7
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill protects due process by making unlawfully obtained plate reader data inadmissible in federal investigations and administrative proceedings.
The opposite
- Scored -8
Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country?
The bill explicitly prohibits the federal government from using automatic license plate readers or related data without statutory authorization, heavily curtailing domestic surveillance of vehicle movements.
- Scored -6
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill uses the withholding of federal grants from the Departments of Transportation, Justice, and Homeland Security to pressure state and local governments into banning license plate readers.
- Scored -5
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
State and local authorities face the loss of major federal financial assistance unless they adopt local bans on automatic license plate readers matching the federal standard.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Privacy Rights: Section 3(a) stops the Federal Government from using automatic license plate readers or tracking vehicle data without a specific act of Congress. This protects everyday citizens from constant government surveillance of their travel and daily movements.
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Right to Sue for Violations: Section 3(d)(2) gives individuals the right to sue the Federal Government if their rights under this Act are violated. This provides a direct way for citizens to hold government officials accountable in court and seek actual and punitive damages.
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Strict Limits on Toll Data: Section 3(c) allows license plate readers for toll collection but strictly limits how that data can be used. It prevents toll data from being shared with law enforcement or commercial advertisers, and requires it to be deleted quickly to protect driver privacy.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Loss of Federal Funding for State and Local Governments: Section 4 withholds key Federal financial assistance from agencies like the Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security for any State or local government that does not ban automatic license plate readers. This could put a financial strain on local communities that rely on these funds for public safety and infrastructure.
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Restrictions on Law Enforcement Tools: Section 3(a) and Section 5 restrict the Federal Government and grant recipients from using these tracking systems. This might make it harder for law enforcement and federal agencies to track vehicles linked to criminal investigations or security threats without specific new laws.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The legislation establishes comprehensive restrictions on government tracking of individuals via license plate readers and creates a private right of action for aggrieved individuals. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill protects due process by making unlawfully obtained plate reader data inadmissible in federal investigations and administrative proceedings. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires detailed audit logs for tolling data access and provides avenues for judicial enforcement and civil suits against the federal government for violations. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill uses the withholding of federal grants from the Departments of Transportation, Justice, and Homeland Security to pressure state and local governments into banning license plate readers. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — State and local authorities face the loss of major federal financial assistance unless they adopt local bans on automatic license plate readers matching the federal standard.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The legislation protects citizen data privacy by banning the collection, retention, and sharing of captured license plate data by federal agencies and limiting toll data usage.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this give the government more power to monitor people inside the country? — The bill explicitly prohibits the federal government from using automatic license plate readers or related data without statutory authorization, heavily curtailing domestic surveillance of vehicle movements.
- 11/9/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon