Jindal Kills Bill Allowing Cops To Automatically Scan Plates
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal has vetoed a bill that would have allowed law enforcement agencies to automatically scan motorists' license plates.
The proposal by Republican Sen. Ronnie Johns, of Lake Charles, would use new technology to crack down on car thieves and insurance scofflaws.
But in a Friday veto message, Jindal said the practice poses a "fundamental risk" to privacy. The Republican governor also said data collected through scans could be stolen or misused.
Johns' bill would have created a pilot program allowing the practice until 2021.
Johns touted the technology as a way for police to cross-check license plates with police databases. If a scan showed a vehicle was stolen or uninsured, officers would have probable cause to make an arrest or issue a citation.
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