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License-plate readers · Stearns

Stearns

Using license-plate readers · 4 agencies documented

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Sartell Police Department

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
Flock Safety
Cameras
8
7 fixed plus 1 flex Flock reader (Jan. 2025)
  1. Nov. 2023 Flock program implemented (month only), per the audit. (The Axtell Group (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), Jan. 26, 2025)
  2. Jan. 26, 2025 First audit: seven fixed readers and one flex reader. (The Axtell Group (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), Jan. 26, 2025)
  3. Oct. 30, 2026 Listed on the BCA's public list of agencies that told the state they use license plate readers (date we opened the page; the list shows no update date). (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown)
Conflicts and open questions
  • Latest record is older than 12 months; still on the BCA list.

From agency records.

Sauk Centre Police Department

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
Vendor not named in source
  1. Oct. 30, 2026 Listed on the BCA's public list of agencies that told the state they use license plate readers (date we opened the page; the list shows no update date). (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown)
Conflicts and open questions
  • Only source found in this round is the BCA list; no vendor, camera count or recent-use record located, so status is unconfirmed.
  • BCA list spells it 'Sauk Center'.

From agency records.

St. Cloud Police Department

Status
Using license-plate readers
Vendors
Axon, Flock Safety
Cameras
44
About 39 of 40 Axon squad readers in service plus 5 fixed Flock readers, as of the March 2026 audit visit (report dated April 2026).
  1. March 4, 2024 Fixed readers deployed, per the audit. (Rampart Audit LLC (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), April 29, 2026)
  2. July 12, 2024 Mobile Axon Fleet readers activated, per the audit. (Rampart Audit LLC (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), April 29, 2026)
  3. April 29, 2026 Audit: about 39 of 40 Axon squad readers deployed, plus five fixed Flock readers. (Rampart Audit LLC (filed with Minnesota Legislative Reference Library), April 29, 2026)
  4. Oct. 30, 2026 Listed on the BCA's public list of agencies that told the state they use license plate readers (date we opened the page; the list shows no update date). (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown)

From agency records.

Stearns County Sheriff's Office

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
Vendor not named in source
  1. Oct. 30, 2026 Listed on the BCA's public list of agencies that told the state they use license plate readers (date we opened the page; the list shows no update date). (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, date not shown)
Conflicts and open questions
  • Only source found in this round is the BCA list; no vendor, camera count or recent-use record located, so status is unconfirmed.

From agency records.

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.