SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — The company that manages Illinois license plate readers shared information with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), despite a state law that bars the practice.
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said Monday that an audit conducted by his office found that Flock Safety, which operates the largest license plate reader system in the country, allowed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to access Illinois license plate camera data.
Giannoulias said he then ordered the company to shut off the government’s access to Illinois’ cameras.
“This sharing of license plate data of motorists who drive on Illinois roads is a clear violation of the state law. This law, passed two years ago, aimed to strengthen how data is shared and prevent this exact thing from happening,” Giannoulias said. “I take my responsibility as Secretary of State seriously. It’s why we spearheaded this legislation, which now gives us the tools needed to hold Flock accountable for its actions.”
Giannoulias said the audit of 12 local law enforcement agencies showed that Flock did not have restrictions in place for data sharing and was running a pilot program with CBP.
His office has called upon Illinois local law enforcement to ensure their policies for license plate data do not violate the Trust Act, which prevents police in Illinois from “collaborating” with federal authorities.
In June, Illinois shut access to its cameras to out-of-state police agencies after a police department in Texas used the system to find a woman who came to Illinois for an abortion.
State Police began installing the cameras in 2022 in an effort to crack down on shootings along Chicago expressways.
The cameras capture images of vehicle license plates, which authorities say can help them track suspects in criminal investigations.
Police departments using the network regularly request data from other law enforcement agencies to investigate crimes.
The City of Rockford has installed its own network of license plate cameras, consisting of 100 cameras positioned throughout the city.
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office announced the purchase of 44 new license plate scanners in May 2024.
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