Nashville’s police oversight board could have power to monitor use of license plate readers if a new bill passes the city council.
The idea of using the devices has caused tension in the city for more than year. The technology takes a photo of each car’s license plate as it passes by.
Last month, the council voted to do a trial run of license plate readers for six months. It’s something the community oversight board opposed because they were concerned it could violate people’s civil liberties, especially people of color.
More: ‘Support the police – that’s Nashville’: Metro Council passes controversial license plate readers
Now a bill is one vote away from making sure the COB has similar oversight power as the public defender and district attorney’s offices.
Early on, local politicians and the police weren’t too fond of residents having oversight power of cops. But there have been some changes in leadership and attitudes since then. The mayor and police chief have both cycled out.
This bill along with two others could refine the license plate reader law. One focuses on stopping immigration authorities from accessing the data. The other defines what personally identifiable information is not captured. The council decided to delay voting on those bills until April so they could be workshopped.
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