Valparaiso Police Get Stronger Rules for License Plate Cameras

The Valparaiso Board of Works and Safety voted on Friday to approve new rules for how police use automatic license plate readers. The vote was unanimous, meaning every member agreed. The updated policy is meant to make sure officers only use the cameras for real law enforcement reasons — not to spy on everyday people.

The old policy was three and a half pages long and covered only two topics. The new policy is five and a half pages and now covers six areas, including who is allowed to use the cameras, how long data is stored, and what happens if someone misuses the system. Officials say the expanded rules give the public more protection and keep officers more accountable.

License plate readers are sometimes called 'Flock cameras' after one of the companies that makes them. They take still photos of vehicles and record information like the make, model, color, and license plate number. The cameras do not show drivers' faces and do not use facial recognition software.

Valparaiso Police Chief Andrew McIntyre said the department wants to stay ahead of problems before they happen. 'We want to take a proactive approach to our policy because this has been a topic of conversation lately,' he said. He made clear that the cameras are not meant to watch people without a reason. 'It's not to be used for surveillance or monitoring people,' McIntyre added.

Nearby departments have recently had trouble with officers misusing license plate readers. The Porter County Sheriff's Department, the Chesterton Police Department, and the Michigan City Police Department all announced that officers used the cameras or their data the wrong way. Those incidents sparked concern about privacy across the region and the country.

Mayor Jon Costas said that cameras like these are now a common part of life. 'They're on homes. They're on businesses. It's a new reality,' he said. He also stressed that strong rules are needed when police use such powerful tools. 'Policing power is a very authoritative power,' he said. 'I think these safeguards are vital.'

City Administrator Steve Poulos asked how the department checks to make sure officers follow the rules. Chief McIntyre said that special computer software powered by artificial intelligence, or AI, runs the audits automatically. If an officer breaks the rules, the consequences can be serious — including losing their job. McIntyre also noted that every officer with access to the system must earn two certifications. 'I want to make sure everyone knows the seriousness of this,' he said.

Board member Katrina Spence-Smock thanked McIntyre for explaining how much training officers receive. She said many people do not realize how carefully the system is managed. 'I think the general public thinks it's all willy-nilly,' she said, meaning people assume officers can look up any plate at any time without a real reason.

After the meeting, McIntyre explained exactly when officers are allowed to use the readers. An officer can use them if there is a real-time alert, like for a stolen car or a wanted person. However, an officer cannot simply run a plate just because they are driving behind someone. 'You have to have a legitimate law enforcement reason for running a license plate,' he said.

McIntyre also explained that using a Flock camera is different from running a plate through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, or BMV. He said a BMV check actually gives more information than Flock does. Under the new policy, Flock data is only kept for 30 days and only shows vehicle descriptions and location data — no images of drivers and no facial recognition. Valparaiso currently has 64 sworn officers, 40 of whom work in the patrol unit, and McIntyre says the department keeps reviewing its policies to stay up to date.