Renton police restarts license plate reader cameras after pausing to comply with new state law
Apr 22, 2026, 2:00 PM
A Flock Safety Falcon, a type of security camera. (Photo courtesy of Flock Safety via KIRO 7)
(Photo courtesy of Flock Safety via KIRO 7)
The Renton Police Department (RPD) has restarted its automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras after pausing to comply with a new Washington law.
“Chief Jon Schuldt paused the cameras on March 31 to ensure our policies complied with the new state law, SB 6002,” RPD stated on X Tuesday.
— Renton Police Dept. (@RentonpdWA) April 22, 2026
Senate Bill 6002 (SB 6002), passed last month, regulates the use of the ALPR system to protect community privacy. Under the law, data collected by the cameras can only be retained for 21 days, and the cameras cannot be used near protected places such as schools or places of worship. However, the data can be used in investigations of both felonies and gross misdemeanors.
RPD said it rewrote its policies and retrained officers before turning the cameras back on.
“We thoroughly evaluated the new law, updated our policies, strengthened data governance and retention protocols, and reinforced accountability measures to align with current legal and community expectations,” the department stated.
RPD Chief Jon Schuldt said he supports the cameras and sees the new law as a necessary check.
“This technology plays a vital role in supporting our investigative process and assisting in getting positive outcomes for victims in our community,” he stated in the post. “It’s essential that strict guardrails are in place to protect our community members. Our updated policy ensures the system is used responsibly, transparently, and within the confines of state law and best practices for public safety.”
Pierce County sheriff calls license plate reader camera law ‘ridiculous’
Schuldt’s opinion of the legislation stands in stark contrast to that of Pierce County Sheriff Keith Swank, who has been vocal about his disdain for SB 6002. Swank decided to indefinitely deactivate Pierce County’s Flock camera system, claiming it’s now useless. Flock is a popular brand of license plate reader commonly used throughout Washington.
Swank argued the ban on Flock cameras near protected places like schools is impossible to comply with because the cameras can’t be turned off manually.
“It’s not possible to do it manually,” he told KIRO Newsradio. “Can you imagine this? You’re running code, lights, and a siren to a shooting, and then you go, ‘Oh my gosh, I gotta remember to turn off the camera here, because I’m going to get close to within 500 feet of a school on my way to the school shooting or whatever,’ right? I mean, no, it’s, it’s ridiculous.”
Swank said Pierce County is losing a critical tool that keeps the public safe.
“We could be driving past stolen cars, cars that have a suspect wanted for homicide,” he said. “Those cameras help us differentiate those cars, the bad guys, from the good guys, and we won’t be able to use that tool anymore.”
The importance of the cameras was highlighted when RPD paused the system to comply with the new law. During the downtime, a suspect in a homicide case drove into Renton and passed Flock cameras that weren’t recording.
RELATED STORIES
Privacy concerns drive new law
However, Senator Yasmin Trudeau, the bill’s sponsor, claimed the legislation prevents federal law enforcement from targeting sensitive groups. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said the reset is necessary to protect community privacy.
“This is also about Washington’s constitution and the fact that we need to respect the privacy of all individuals anytime we take on technology, particularly surveillance technology,” Ferguson said.
In December 2024, RPD added 24 Flock cameras across the city. Privacy advocates pushed back, warning the devices could enable mass surveillance and be exploited by federal immigration enforcement. Those concerns helped drive passage of the state’s first law regulating license plate readers, leading other cities to reconsider the cameras.
In February, Lynnwood became the first Washington city to cancel its contract with Flock Safety over privacy concerns, following a unanimous vote by the city council. In mid-March, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson paused the expansion of the city’s surveillance camera pilot program and ordered an audit. However, Wilson allowed existing cameras to continue operating.
Contributing: Jillian Raftery and Frank Lenzi, KIRO Newsradio; Jason Sutich, MyNorthwest
Follow Julia Dallas on X. Read her stories here. Submit news tips here.
