Old Town City Council bans fixed license plate readers

Seven council members voted in favor of a measure that prohibits fixed automatic license plate readers in Old Town. The vote occurred during the final City Council meeting before election day. Councilors Christian Pushor, Linda McLeod, Michael May, David Wight, Charlene Virgilio, Katrina Wynn, and Zachary Wyles approved the ban without opposition.

Old Town becomes the first community in Greater Bangor to restrict this specific technology. The proposal originated in September. At that time, residents of neighboring Bangor were filing complaints regarding cameras that the city did not own. Brewer officials had also halted the use of such devices after discovering that the software for one unit violated state law.

No fixed license plate readers are currently active in Old Town. The ordinance does not stop the police department from using mobile readers already present in their vehicles. It also allows for future fixed installations, provided they meet new legal requirements. Any future use requires approval from five of the seven council members.

The new rules mandate a public hearing before funds are allocated for the cameras. During this hearing, officials must share information regarding data retention and the necessity of the devices. The police department must also seek council approval before entering data-sharing agreements with other communities that utilize the technology.

Public engagement on the proposal has been minimal. The measure appeared on the agenda for several consecutive meetings. During those sessions, there was little to no comment from residents supporting or opposing the ban. The council did not discuss the proposal on the day it was voted on. Previous discussions focused on giving future councils and voters the power to approve or deny the technology.

Councilor Zachary Wyles introduced the ban in September as a proactive step. He argued that creating legislation before cameras are installed is easier than reacting to a direct third-party contract later. Wyles stated in September that calm times are the appropriate moment to pass such legislation. He noted that dealing with the issue before a private company contract exists prevents it from becoming a more complex dispute.

The ban reflects a growing national trend of opposition to license plate reading cameras. These devices capture passing license plate numbers and other identifying information. The data is added to a network that can track a person’s movements. Reported misuses, including tracking individuals without legal cause and wrongly identifying drivers as criminals, have driven this increase in scrutiny.