Weaver and Collins Call for Immediate Action. Not a Pause, on Surveillance Cameras

Milford, Thursday, Aug 6th, - Republican candidates Owen Weaver (Senate 14th) and Ray Collins (State Representative 117th) today called on Governor Ned Lamont to convene a special session of the General Assembly so lawmakers can take immediate action on the installation and operation of automated license plate readers (ALPRs) across Connecticut.

Under Public Act 26-14, signed by Governor Lamont this year and championed by Representative MJ Shannon and Senator James Maroney, municipalities may enter contracts with private vendors such as Flock that operate ALPRs. The law requires no public hearing before a municipality signs any such contract and places no limit on the number of cameras that can be deployed.

“As a municipal attorney, I know the use and proliferation of ALPRs by our towns is not new, and it has raised serious issues,” Weaver said. “Senator Maroney and the Democrat supermajority passed Public Act 26-14, which green-lights the unfettered expansion of this invasive technology. Their sudden call to ‘pause’ new installations is not a serious solution to a problem they themselves created and enabled. The situation demands immediate action and genuine collaboration among all stakeholders, including our police departments, to reach a real solution. The public should not have to wait until 2027 for meaningful legislative protection. The time to act is now.”

”Representative Shannon’s silence on this issue is a clear failure to address the legitimate privacy concerns of the residents of the 117th. Democrats have acknowledged that this technology is invasive and requires action, yet they propose delaying any meaningful reform until 2027. The legislative supermajority has the authority right now to restrict or disable these systems statewide and protect the privacy of residents in the 117th District. Their continued inaction is deeply concerning,” added Collins. “At the same time, we must support our police officers. The Police Accountability bill, combined with the ‘defund the police’ movement, has created a serious crisis in recruiting and retaining officers. We cannot undermine the men and women who keep our communities safe while expanding surveillance tools that further erode public trust. The time for real leadership is now; not later.”

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