The Washington license plate reader law, the Driver Privacy Act (SB 6002) reported signed in March 2026, requires license plate reader data to be destroyed within 21 days unless needed as evidence, requires agencies to keep two years of access records, limits use to specific investigations, bars use for immigration enforcement and requires a warrant to obtain data held by private vendors. Confirm the enacted text.
What the Washington license plate reader law says
Washington’s Senate Bill 6002, also called the Driver Privacy Act, is described in news coverage as the state’s first comprehensive law on automated license plate readers. The Washington State Standard reported in March 2026 that the regulations were close to becoming law, and a later summary reports that the governor signed the bill on March 30, 2026. The retention period was originally proposed at 72 hours and was extended during the legislative process.
The key rules, as reported
| Topic | What has been reported |
|---|---|
| Retention | Reader data must be destroyed within 21 days unless police need it as evidence. Advocates noted the final figure was only marginally shorter than the prior 30-day status quo. |
| Access records | Agencies must keep a record for two years of when their reader data was accessed. |
| Use | Use is limited to specific investigations, and use for immigration enforcement is prohibited. |
| Vendor-held data | A warrant is required to obtain ALPR data held by private vendors. |
| Public records | The data is exempt from public disclosure, except when requested for research. |
| Model policies | The Attorney General is to develop model policies by July 1, 2027, and agencies are to adopt them by December of that year. |
What agencies should do
- Set automatic deletion at 21 days or sooner, and flag records preserved as evidence separately.
- Keep two years of access logs and confirm your system records who searched, when and why.
- Review vendor contracts. If a vendor holds your data, know what a warrant request looks like and who responds.
- Block prohibited uses in policy and in search-reason requirements, including immigration enforcement.
- Plan for the model policies due from the Attorney General, and be ready to adopt them.
See the policy and data-retention guide and the state overview.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Washington license plate reader law?
Senate Bill 6002 (2026), called the Driver Privacy Act, reported as the state’s first comprehensive law on automated license plate readers.
What is Washington’s Driver Privacy Act?
The name given to Senate Bill 6002 (2026), reported as the state’s first comprehensive law on automated license plate readers.
How long can Washington agencies keep ALPR data?
As reported, 21 days, unless the data is needed as evidence. The period was originally proposed at 72 hours.
Does a warrant apply to vendor-held data?
Reports say the law requires a warrant to obtain ALPR data from private vendors. Confirm the details in the enacted text.
Can Washington ALPR data be used for immigration enforcement?
Reports say the law prohibits it.
When do agencies need to adopt model policies?
Per reports, the Attorney General is to develop model policies by July 1, 2027, and agencies are to adopt them by December that year.