Renton, WA— Some of the City’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras returned to service Tuesday, after a pause that began March 31.
Ed VanValey, the city’s Chief Administrative Officer, shared the news this evening at “What’s Brewing with Ed,” a public community event. According to VanValey, the program’s compliance and training requirements have been met.
As Renton Signal previously reported, the Renton Police Department paused all ALPR systems, including Flock Safety cameras, in-car cameras, and parking enforcement vehicles, while it worked to come into compliance with Senate Bill 6002. The new state law sets requirements for how police use license plate reader technology, including rules about how long data can be kept, how it can be shared, what it can be used for, and what the department must report to the state Attorney General.
While the Flock cameras have been reactivated, others are still under review as they understand how to meet compliance with “sensitive areas” like schools and hospitals.
In April, Chief Jon Schuldt told the City Council’s Committee of the Whole that the program would stay off until the department could update its policies, complete new training, and set up audit and reporting systems that meet the new law.
The program also came up at the April 6 City Council meeting, when a resident raised concerns about records in the system. City rules require officers to write down a reason each time they look up license plate data, and the resident said a good number of those reasons had not been recorded clearly. According to VanValey, the problem was a clerical mistake during data entry, and the records have since been corrected.
At today’s event, VanValey echoed Chief Schuldt’s earlier comments about the program’s investigative value. He said the cameras have been useful for more than stolen car cases, including robbery and murder investigations. He also added that the cameras might have been helpful in looking into the recent shootings at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park.
Update — April 22, 2026:
The Renton Police Department responded Tuesday to Renton Signal’s earlier request for comment, confirming that its ALPR program is back online. According to the department, Chief Schuldt paused the cameras on March 31 to ensure the program’s policies aligned with SB 6002. In the weeks since, the department says it evaluated the new law, updated its policies, strengthened data governance and retention protocols, and reinforced accountability measures. All authorized users have been trained on the updated policy.
“This technology plays a vital role in supporting our investigative process and assisting in getting positive outcomes for victims in our community,” Chief Schuldt said in the statement. “It’s essential that strict guardrails are in place to protect our community members. Our updated policy ensures the system is used responsibly, transparently, and within the confines of state law and best practices for public safety.”