ACLU opposes plans for license plate scanners

GRAND RAPIDS (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan is offering its opposition to Grand Rapids’ plans to use license plate scanning technology for parking enforcement.

The Grand Rapids Press reports the ACLU sent a letter to city officials recently saying that the scanners are another piece of surveillance technology that reduces “personal privacy rights and empowers the surveillance society.”

The parking department is considering seeking bids for scanners to assist in checking to see whether parked cars have valid permits.

Department head Josh Naramore says the scanners automate a process that license plate checkers currently do manually.

WOOD-TV reports that he told the City Commission that information collected would be deleted after 24 hours and not shared with authorities.