(The Center Square) – A new bill that would prevent license plate data from being stored for more than 60 days is expected to be up for a vote in the California Legislature this week.

Senate Bill 1013, authored by Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, D-Riverside, would require operators of automated license plate recognition systems to enhance safeguards limiting employee access and usage. The state’s Department of Justice would also be required to audit those operators, as well as end-user agencies– like law enforcement – every year, according to a legislative analysis of the bill.

The bill analysis also stipulates that public agencies would have additional restrictions and that they would have to archive automated license plate reader data after 60 days.

After Jan. 1, 2027, public agencies would have to archive license plate reader data after 14 days. The only exceptions would be if license plate data was included in an active investigation or criminal case or if it matches information on an authorized “hot list,” like the one kept by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Those who support the bill say the legislation is necessary to curb some of the problems associated with license plate readers, predominately mass surveillance and law enforcement abuse of those systems.

“There’s still warrantless mass surveillance up until 60 days, but after 60 days, there is a warrant requirement,” Mike Katz-Lacabe, director of research for Oakland Privacy, told The Center Square on Monday. “So that will help curb some of the abuses that we have seen where law enforcement individuals go into use the database to basically stalk people. It won’t completely prevent it; there’s still that 60-day window. But after 60 days, they won’t be able to go through and abuse that data without a warrant.”

License plate readers have gotten a lot of publicity and attention recently, in large part because they have become so popular with law enforcement and local governments. The bill is meant to protect those who have been the victims of stalking by law enforcement, as well as the general public, Katz-Lacabe said.

“That is a problem not just with license plate reader databases, but with all law enforcement databases that potentially impact the privacy of everyone,” Katz-Lacabe said. “That’s the overall concern that we have, is the impacts on privacy of every person in California.”

The California Police Chiefs Association, which opposes the bill, did not respond to The Center Square before publication time on Monday. However, in opposing remarks submitted as part of the bill analysis, the organization said the ability to use automated license plate readers would be limited if the bill became law.

"SB 1013's requirement that all ALPR data be deleted after 30 days unless it is associated with a narrowly defined 'hotlist' would severely limit the effectiveness of this technology,” those remarks read. “Many crimes are not reported immediately, particularly offenses such as sexual assault, domestic violence, human trafficking, and complex property crimes. In these situations, victims may come forward weeks or months after the incident, at which point ALPR data showing vehicles in the area becomes essential to identifying suspects or corroborating evidence.”

Oakland, Calif.-based Independent Institute said its research shows that automated license plate readers are not justified in mass surveillance by local governments. Cities and counties often use the technology to catch criminals, but it often results in innocent people’s data being captured and stored, according to the institute's report.

Organizations that have taken stances on automated license plate readers in the past, like the American Civil Liberties Union, did not respond to The Center Square's request for comment.

Cervantes and her office also did not respond to The Center Square.