Bryan City Council Tuesday night heard from a resident urging the discontinued use of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) within the city.
The police department has 15 of the cameras around Bryan. Police use them to read license plates on vehicles in the city and have said they help solve crimes like missing persons, thefts and driving by stopped school buses.
Resident Nathan Dhaenens stated concerns with Fourth Amendment concerns on search and seizure and privacy, as well as transparency on how the data captured is used.
He pointed out police officers have been found to misuse the cameras in some places, and said cities like Toledo and Fort Wayne have either stopped using them or are considering it.
“This is very new technology, developing at a rapid pace, and the law and technology have not quite kept up with the concerns they raise as they develop this technology,” Dhaenens said.
In response to the transparency question, Bryan Police Chief Greg Ruskey said his department has created a transparency portal on the police department’s portion of the city website so residents can see how the cameras are used.
Dhaenens suggested the city terminate its contract with the ALPR company it uses, Flock, as well as instituting a three-year moratorium on use of ALPRs.
Council President John Betts said he appreciated the information Dhaenens provided but respectfully disagreed and said he had also discussed the issue several times with Ruskey.
Council took no action on Dhaenens’ proposal.
In other action, council:
Approved allowing the mayor to enter into an agreement with Bryan Excavating for a sanitary sewer project in the South Walnut Street area. The company had the low bid of $288,375. The estimate is $407,205 and grant funding is also available for it.Approved a liquor permit for ALDI. The state also needs to approve the permit.Approved providing revolving loan funds for Saunders Theater in the amount of $19,800 for repairs to one of their roofs that was damaged by hail.