The License-Plate Reader File · MinnesotaIn reporting · updated Oct. 31, 2026

Who is reading your plate?
County by county.

Minnesota law requires every agency that uses plate readers to tell the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which listed 117 agencies on Oct. 30, 2026, and to file independent audits; of the 101 local agencies on this map with documented programs, 9 have ended them, among them the St. Louis County sheriff and the Crystal and Columbia Heights police, and St. Paul is removing its two Flock cameras.

License-plate readers in other states →

A county’s color reflects any documented agency in it: the sheriff’s office or a city police department. “Not yet checked” is not the same as “none”.

Using license-plate readers
In use; some cameras may have been switched off or removed.
Removing or limiting cameras
Removing cameras beyond state roads, or limiting use, while some remain.
Use suspended
Cameras switched off or use paused; no contract termination reported.
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Records or reports show the agency bought or used plate readers, but no source found confirms whether they are still in use.
Ended or removed
Contract terminated, program discontinued, or all cameras removed.

Statewide

  1. 2015 Minn. Stat. § 13.824 enacted (2015 c 67, s 3); later amended in 2021 (1st Spec. Sess.) and 2024 (c 127). It limits what ALPRs may collect, requires destruction of non-investigative data within 60 days, limits sharing to qualifying law-enforcement agencies, requires a public log of use and list of fixed locations, requires a biennial independent audit filed with the Legislative Commission on Data Practices and others within 30 days, requires written authorization and an active-investigation basis for access, and bars tracking an investigative subject without a warrant or exigent circumstances. (Enactment year only; month not checked.) (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, date not shown)
  2. 2015 Subdivision 8 requires agencies to notify the BCA within 10 days of installing or using an ALPR (including fixed locations); the BCA keeps a public list of agencies and reader locations unless a location is classified as security information. (Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, date not shown)
  3. Nov. 20, 2025 The Legislative Commission on Data Practices took public testimony on ALPR and body-camera reporting requirements. (Legislative Coordinating Commission, Nov. 20, 2025)
  4. Dec. 11, 2025 The commission's members discussed ALPR and body-camera reporting requirements and potential statutory updates. (Legislative Coordinating Commission, Dec. 11, 2025; Legislative Coordinating Commission, Dec. 11, 2025)
  5. March 12, 2026 HF 4205 (Tabke) introduced: it would tighten ALPR data restrictions, centralize ALPR data in the BCA, and regulate private-entity ALPR use; referred to House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law with no further action shown. (Minnesota Legislature / Revisor of Statutes, March 12, 2026)
  6. March 23, 2026 Senate companion SF 4739 (Verbeten) introduced and referred to Judiciary and Public Safety; no further action shown. Its text would amend § 13.824 and add related provisions elsewhere in state law. (Minnesota Legislature / Revisor of Statutes, March 23, 2026; Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, March 19, 2026)
  7. July 2026 A Star Tribune investigation published in July 2026 (exact date not confirmed) reported that law enforcement agencies inside and outside Minnesota searched plate-reader data from Twin Cities suburbs for civil immigration enforcement. Sahan Journal said the investigation found about 30 state, county and federal agencies ran such searches on cameras in at least eight suburbs between November 2025 and March 2026. MPR News reported hundreds of such searches, mostly on Fridley's cameras. The Minneapolis City Council bulletin said the investigation reported that federal immigration agencies such as ICE could access Flock data. In October 2026 the Star Tribune said the searches took place during Operation Metro Surge. (Sahan Journal, Aug. 18, 2026; MPR News, Aug. 17, 2026; City of Minneapolis, Oct. 1, 2026; Government Technology (TNS / Minnesota Star Tribune), Aug. 4, 2026; Government Technology (TNS / Minnesota Star Tribune), Oct. 26, 2026; FOX 9, Aug. 14, 2026)
  8. Oct. 30, 2026 The BCA public list, checked Oct. 30, 2026, names 117 agencies that reported using ALPR or devices with ALPR capability. The page shows no 'last updated' date. (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown)

State agencies

Minnesota State Patrol

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
PIPS Technology
Cameras
6
ALPR systems on patrol vehicles at the 2024 audit.
Sources
Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown
  1. Feb. 27, 2024 Audit (Jan. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2023) reported six active ALPR systems on patrol vehicles and no stationary units; it reviewed the PIPS Technology BOSS system. (Minnesota Legislative Reference Library (filed audit), Feb. 27, 2024)
Conflicts and open questions
  • Still on the BCA public list (no fixed locations) as of Oct. 30, 2026; no 2025-2026 audit located.

From agency records.

Every county

All 87 counties
AitkinNot yet checked———
AnokaUsing license-plate readers9Axon, Flock Safety17
BeckerProgram documented, current use unconfirmed1Flock Safety5
BeltramiUsing license-plate readers1Flock Safety13
BentonUsing license-plate readers3Axon, Flock Safety52
Big StoneNot yet checked———
Blue EarthUsing license-plate readers1Axon, Milestone Systems31
BrownNot yet checked———
CarltonNot yet checked———
CarverProgram documented, current use unconfirmed1——
CassUsing license-plate readers1Flock Safety13
ChippewaNot yet checked———
ChisagoUsing license-plate readers3Flock Safety7
ClayUsing license-plate readers1Flock Safety8
ClearwaterNot yet checked———
CookNot yet checked———
CottonwoodNot yet checked———
Crow WingUsing license-plate readers1Flock Safety10
DakotaUsing license-plate readers11Axon, Flock Safety32
DodgeNot yet checked———
DouglasUsing license-plate readers1Flock Safety11
FaribaultNot yet checked———
FillmoreNot yet checked———
FreebornProgram documented, current use unconfirmed1—2
GoodhueProgram documented, current use unconfirmed1Flock Safety—
GrantNot yet checked———
HennepinUsing license-plate readers23Axon, Flock Safety137
HoustonNot yet checked———
HubbardUsing license-plate readers1Flock Safety13
IsantiProgram documented, current use unconfirmed2Flock Safety8
ItascaUsing license-plate readers2Axon, Flock Safety44
JacksonNot yet checked———
KanabecNot yet checked———
KandiyohiProgram documented, current use unconfirmed2Flock Safety9
KittsonNot yet checked———
KoochichingNot yet checked———
Lac qui ParleNot yet checked———
LakeNot yet checked———
Lake of the WoodsNot yet checked———
Le SueurUsing license-plate readers1Flock Safety4
LincolnNot yet checked———
LyonNot yet checked———
MahnomenUsing license-plate readers1Flock Safety13
MarshallNot yet checked———
MartinNot yet checked———
McLeodProgram documented, current use unconfirmed1——
MeekerNot yet checked———
Mille LacsProgram documented, current use unconfirmed4——
MorrisonProgram documented, current use unconfirmed1——
MowerNot yet checked———
MurrayNot yet checked———
NicolletUsing license-plate readers1Axon, Milestone Systems31
NoblesNot yet checked———
NormanNot yet checked———
OlmstedUsing license-plate readers2Axon2
Otter TailUsing license-plate readers1Axon31
PenningtonNot yet checked———
PineProgram documented, current use unconfirmed1——
PipestoneNot yet checked———
PolkUsing license-plate readers1Flock Safety4
PopeNot yet checked———
RamseyUsing license-plate readers9Axon, Flock Safety, Motorola Solutions62
Red LakeNot yet checked———
RedwoodNot yet checked———
RenvilleNot yet checked———
RiceUsing license-plate readers2Axon, Flock Safety10
RockNot yet checked———
RoseauNot yet checked———
ScottUsing license-plate readers4Axon, Flock Safety16
SherburneUsing license-plate readers3Axon, Flock Safety44
SibleyNot yet checked———
St. LouisRemoving or limiting cameras2Flock Safety70
StearnsUsing license-plate readers4Axon, Flock Safety52
SteeleUsing license-plate readers1Flock Safety8
StevensNot yet checked———
SwiftNot yet checked———
ToddNot yet checked———
TraverseNot yet checked———
WabashaProgram documented, current use unconfirmed1Flock Safety—
WadenaNot yet checked———
WasecaNot yet checked———
WashingtonUsing license-plate readers7Flock Safety, Leonardo (ELSAG), Motorola Solutions62
WatonwanNot yet checked———
WilkinNot yet checked———
WinonaEnded or removed1Flock Safety8
WrightProgram documented, current use unconfirmed1——
Yellow MedicineNot yet checked———

How this map is built

We start with each county’s sheriff’s office and its largest city police departments, then work outward. Each agency’s entry says whether it comes from agency records or from news reports, and links every source. Companies are tracked separately, so the map can show one company’s customers or all license-plate readers together.

Have a contract, invoice or records response for an agency here? Send it to tips@signaldata.org.

Sources