Grand Rapids Weighs Limits on Camera Tracking

Grand Rapids is now talking about new limits. A camera system reads license plates. It helps police look at car plates. Some residents have raised concerns. They say the cameras may invade privacy. They say data may be used wrongly.

The city held a work session. It took place on November 12. The meeting was part of planning. Officials talked about safety, housing, and immigration. The camera issue came up during that talk.

Police say the system is helpful. They say it helps stop crime. It helps them find suspects in violent cases. It can work faster. Grand Rapids police used similar tech since 2012. They began using a vendor in 2024. There are 29 cameras now.

Commissioners did not call for an immediate stop. They did agree on new limits. They told the city manager to restrict data sharing. The rule would stop some local police groups. Those groups have an ICE agreement. The city does not have that agreement. The mayor said it would show disagreement.

The contract ends in June 2027. The city planned to seek other vendors. The mayor wanted to speed up the process. He said he was not keen on the same vendor. Staff said a rushed search could hurt a planned audit. The manager said he would look into it.