New York, NY Privacy & Surveillance: License Plate Readers (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Administrative Code § 14-188 (POST Act)
- Advance notice
- 90 days before new surveillance tech use
- Public comment period
- 45 days on proposed policy
- ICE/CBP disclosure
- Must track and report data sharing
- Oversight
- Policy sent to Speaker and Mayor
Summary
New York City's POST Act treats license plate readers as surveillance technology: NYPD must post a public impact-and-use policy, take 45 days of comments, and disclose whether ALPR data reaches ICE or Customs and Border Protection.
Such policy shall identify whether the department has any actual knowledge that law enforcement agencies with access to such data share such data with United States immigration and customs enforcement or United States customs and border protection and under which circumstances. Such policy shall also identify which measures, if any, the department takes to minimize the risk of such data being used for civil immigration enforcement.
Full Breakdown
Under Administrative Code § 14-188 (the POST Act), NYPD license plate readers count as 'surveillance technology' because they collect and retain location data. Before deploying or expanding an ALPR program, the department must publish a surveillance technology impact and use policy 90 days in advance, accept public comments for 45 days, then send the final policy to the City Council Speaker and Mayor. NYPD must also track and disclose any instance where it hands ALPR data to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection, and state what it does to limit that data's use for civil immigration enforcement.
Violations & Fines
NYPD non-compliance is enforced through DOI oversight and Council reporting, not fines; the Commissioner of Investigation can flag improperly withheld manufacturer names or missing impact-and-use policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NYC need City Council approval to deploy license plate readers?
Does NYPD share license plate reader data with ICE?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New York
New York rules heatmap·Compare New York to another location·View the New York privacy & surveillance overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.