Minnesota Mass Surveillance: Live ALPR Updates
We track changes to Flock transparency portals, automated license plate reader (ALPR) rosters, and other databases. When cameras are added, locations withheld, or data is shared with new departments - we log and publish each change.
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Spring Lake Park PD cut data retention from 30 days to 7 days
Data-retention period changedThe portal's Data Retention field changed from 30 days to 7 days. Everything else on the portal was unchanged from the previous snapshot (2026-09-04): 2 cameras, the same hotlist sources (NCMEC Amber Alert, MN BCA), the same 53-organization sharing list (Brooklyn Park MN PD and Columbia Heights MN PD still tagged [Inactive]), and the same acceptable use, prohibited use, access and hotlist policy text. The change was detected 2026-09-16 and took effect sometime after 2026-09-04. Spring Lake Park now matches the 7-day retention period shown on the Saint Paul PD portal.
What does this mean?
The number of days the agency keeps plate reads changed. Minn. Stat. 13.824 requires ALPR data not linked to an active criminal investigation to be destroyed within 60 days, so a general retention period above 60 days conflicts with state law. A longer window leaves a deeper searchable history of drivers' movements, and a shorter one limits how far back a query can reach. -
Paul Bunyan Task Force updated its linked Beltrami County SO ALPR policy to the 2026 policy manual
Usage/access policy changedThe "Beltrami County SO Policy" link in the portal's More Info section changed from an older PDF on the county's previous website (co.beltrami.mn.us) to the 2026 BCSO Policy Manual on the county's current site (beltramicountymn.gov/media/wpchq1rb/2026-bcso-policy-manual.pdf). The ALPR policy text published on the portal itself was unchanged; only the linked full-policy document moved and now points to the 2026 edition of the manual.
What does this mean?
The agency changed the written rules for how its cameras and data may be used, including who can run a search, what justification is required, and how access is logged. Minn. Stat. 13.824 limits ALPR use to legitimate law enforcement purposes and requires a recorded audit trail of every query, so policy edits can widen or narrow surveillance even when the cameras stay the same. -
Blaine PD moved its ALPR policy off the city website
Usage/access policy changedThe "Full ALPR Policy" link on Blaine PD's transparency portal changed from the city's own site (blainemn.gov/ALPR) to a third-party policy-hosting platform (blai-pd-mn.magnusone.tech). The policy text published on the portal itself was unchanged; only the link to the full policy moved.
What does this mean?
The agency changed the written rules for how its cameras and data may be used, including who can run a search, what justification is required, and how access is logged. Minn. Stat. 13.824 limits ALPR use to legitimate law enforcement purposes and requires a recorded audit trail of every query, so policy edits can widen or narrow surveillance even when the cameras stay the same. -
St. Louis Park PD cut data retention from 60 to 30 days
Data-retention period changedThe portal's data retention period changed from 60 days to 30 days.
What does this mean?
The number of days the agency keeps plate reads changed. Minn. Stat. 13.824 requires ALPR data not linked to an active criminal investigation to be destroyed within 60 days, so a general retention period above 60 days conflicts with state law. A longer window leaves a deeper searchable history of drivers' movements, and a shorter one limits how far back a query can reach.