As someone deeply committed to public safety, civil rights, and the protection of vulnerable communities, I believe Mayor Mike Johnston made the right decision on Denver’s license plate recognition (LPR) cameras. Instead of shutting down a system that has repeatedly proven effective, he chose a thoughtful, community-centered approach – one that strengthens public safety while putting in place some of the strongest privacy protections in the nation.
LPR cameras are a tool, and like any tool, their impact depends on how responsibly they’re governed. We’ve already seen their effectiveness: they have helped locate missing children, recover stolen vehicles, and solve violent crimes across the city. At Denver International Airport, car thefts have dropped by over 80% since LPR cameras were installed. Removing this tool altogether would not have made Denver safer – it would have left families less protected.
But the conversation was never simply about whether LPR technology works. For many of us – especially Black, Brown, immigrant, and mixed-status families – the real question was whether this system could be used against us. Whether it could become yet another mechanism for targeting or surveillance. Whether federal agencies, including ICE, could access or misuse this data. Those concerns were valid, and they deserved action.
Mayor Johnston did what responsible leaders must do: he listened to community concerns and fixed what needed fixing. The new safeguards are not symbolic – they are structural, enforceable, and unprecedented in their strength.
Here’s what is now guaranteed:
ICE and all federal immigration agencies are fully barred from accessing LPR data. No loopholes, no informal requests, no gray areas. Immigration enforcement cannot use this system – ever.
Only Denver police can use LPR data, and only for active investigations within city limits. No outside law enforcement can tap into the system for their own purposes.
The technology cannot be used to interfere with reproductive healthcare or criminalize healthcare decisions. This is essential in a post-Roe landscape where surveillance has become a real threat.
Strict penalties for misuse – up to $100,000 per violation and possible criminal prosecution. This is one of the strongest accountability measures in the country.
A mandatory review of every technology update. The city – not the vendor – decides what changes move forward.
A four- to five-month no-cost pilot period before any long-term commitment. We get real data, real transparency, and real community oversight before the city makes a final decision.
These protections matter. They reflect the demands of residents who insisted on safety and civil rights – not one at the expense of the other. And importantly, they ensure that Denver’s immigrant families and people seeking reproductive care cannot be tracked, targeted, or harmed by the system.
When the City Council reviews the LPR program this spring, they will be evaluating more than technology – they will be evaluating a new framework built on transparency, accountability, and community protections. The pilot period gives everyone the evidence needed to make an informed decision.
This moment is not about choosing between privacy and public safety. It’s about demonstrating that Denver can – and must – commit to both. The LPR system tracks license plates, not people. It operates on the same life-saving principle behind Amber Alerts: use technology to respond quickly when every minute matters.
Mayor Johnston didn’t abandon a tool that keeps people safe; he made it better, stronger, and more just. He showed that leadership means listening, adapting, and ensuring that all community members – especially those most often overlooked – are protected.
Denver now has an LPR framework that strengthens public safety without sacrificing our values. And that is the kind of governance our communities deserve.
Bianka Emerson is the president of the Colorado Black Women for Political Action, a non-partisan, non-profit organization impacting the community since 1977.
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