St. Louis County, MO Privacy & Surveillance: License Plate Readers (2026)
Key Facts
- Citation
- Section 1105.057 SLCRO
- Approval authority
- County Executive + County Counselor
- Cost to county
- Zero: installer pays
- Adopted
- O. No. 28404, 3-10-2022
- Camera definition
- Fixed camera + plate-reading algorithm
Summary
St. Louis County lets its County Executive sign no-cost contracts with municipalities and private companies to install and run license plate recognition cameras in county rights-of-way, with the County Counselor approving contract terms instead of a council vote on each deal.
The County Executive is authorized to execute contracts with municipalities and private entities for the installation, operation and maintenance of license plate recognition cameras within County right-of-way and for such other terms and conditions as are approved by the County Counselor. Any such contract shall be at no cost to County, with the municipality or private entity to bear all costs associated with the installation of any license plate recognition camera and equipment. For purposes of this section, "license plate recognition cameras" shall mean a fixed camera combined with computer algorithms to convert images of registration plates into data readable by a computer.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Traffic: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
Section 1105.057 SLCRO authorizes the County Executive to execute installation, maintenance, and operation contracts for license plate recognition cameras placed within County right-of-way, with any municipality or private entity bearing every cost: the County pays nothing. The County Counselor, not the full County Council, signs off on each contract's terms and conditions. The ordinance defines a "license plate recognition camera" narrowly as a fixed camera paired with computer algorithms that convert plate images into machine-readable data; it sets no data-retention period, no limit on partner agencies, and no restriction on sharing captured plate data with federal agencies.
Violations & Fines
This is a contracting-authorization section, not a criminal statute: it carries no fine or penalty of its own. Compliance is enforced through the individual contract terms the County Counselor negotiates with each municipality or private installer, not through a codified violation clause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the County Council vote on each ALPR camera contract?
Does the ordinance set rules on data retention or sharing with ICE?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
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