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Lawmakers Renew Push To Regulate License Plate Readers

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota lawmakers are restarting a two-year-long push to set rules for how law enforcement agencies use automated license plate readers.

The cameras are usually mounted on squad cars, logging car locations into a database. Police say they help track down stolen cars and aid in investigations.

But there are no state rules governing their use because lawmakers haven't been able to agree how long police can keep data on law-abiding Minnesotans. A Senate panel passed a bill Thursday setting that window at 90 days. A similar bill was recently introduced in the House.

Skeptical lawmakers and privacy advocates are pushing for a shorter retention period and more oversight to ensure location data isn't abused.

That data will become public in August if the Legislature doesn't pass a law restricting access.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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