Tupelo police defend license plate readers, outline safeguards

The Tupelo Police Department on Tuesday defended its use of license plate readers amid increased national scrutiny and said the technology is governed by safeguards meant to protect privacy. Chief John Quaka, the department said, has been committed to transparency since taking office.

The department said the readers capture images of license plates and basic vehicle characteristics to help officers identify vehicles tied to reported crimes, missing people and endangered persons. The system, the department said, does not identify drivers or passengers and is not used to track the daily activities of law-abiding citizens.

Access to license plate reader data is limited to authorized personnel and, the department said, every search is logged and audited. The Tupelo Police Department’s Technology Division regularly reviews system activity to ensure compliance with department policy and applicable law, the department said.

The city does not use license plate readers, cameras or other automated technology to issue traffic citations, the department said. Instead, it said, the readers are used as investigative tools and have helped officers solve violent crimes and locate suspects in aggravated assaults and homicides, recover stolen vehicles, find wanted individuals and locate missing or endangered people.

The department said license plate readers capture information that is visible to anyone on public roadways and are similar to traffic cameras, toll systems and private security cameras. It added that the department will continue using lawful tools to protect the community while ensuring those tools are used responsibly, lawfully and with oversight.

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