‘Shut those toll roads down immediately’: Jake demands Gov. Ferguson apply license plate law to tolls

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed a bill into law that adds new guardrails for using automated license plate readers (ALPR), addressing concerns over federal immigration authorities having access to the data and using it to aid in arrests.

Jake Skorheim, co-host of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, called out Senate Bill 6002, claiming cameras scanning license plates on toll bridges are no different, and demanded that those, too, should be paused.

“Here’s what I think, honestly. I’m not being tongue-in-cheek here. I think the tolls are horrible, I want them gone,” Jake said. “If they’re going to use this as law, and they’re going to say, we’re trying to protect drivers in Washington from the federal government, they can’t decide what’s happening in Texas. They can’t decide how that information is being used. That’s a private company.”

“My thing is, why don’t you look at the number one thing that’s taking pictures of license plates in our state? And if you’re not willing to look at that, it’s because they like the dollars that are coming in, right?” he continued. “I think they should shut those toll roads down immediately until they can guarantee that they are safe. Can we send an email to the governor’s office and ask, ‘Do we know for a fact that this information is safe?’ Because if not, I think it would be his responsibility.”

Jake challenges Ferguson to apply new license plate reader protections to toll bridges

Jake pushed harder on his demands for Ferguson to look at toll cameras in the same light as ALPRs, stating he just wants to protect the people of Washington, similar to Ferguson’s claims of protecting residents against federal law enforcement.

“I think a temporary closing down until they can guarantee the safety of our Washington residents,” he said. “I’m trying to protect our people here. People every single day are driving under there. How many scanners do you drive under on SR 167? At one point, I was commuting under like 13 of them. No, thank you. I can’t guarantee the safety of that, and I hope the governor can. If he can’t, it’s the responsible thing for them to shut it down, even if it’s just temporarily.”

Jake noted the loss of revenue to the Washington State Department of Transportation would be impactful, since Washington currently has the 47th worst roads in the country, but affirmed that they cannot put the money above the safety of citizens.

“They are capturing license plates all the time. I think they should look into that, and I think they should shut that system down. I know [WSDOT] needs the money, but listen, you better not put that above the safety of the citizens,” Jake said. “You know what, if it costs them a little bit of money in the meantime, and it’s a little bit less money out of my pocket. So be it. I’m willing to suffer that.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.