Lexington Mayor Appoints Independent Panel to Review Automated License Plate Reader Technology
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton has announced the appointment of Allison Connelly and Timothy Johnson as co-chairs of an independent, external panel. This panel is tasked with reviewing the city's use of automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology. Connelly, an attorney and University of Kentucky College of Law professor emeritus, and Johnson, President and CEO of the Greater Clark Foundation, will lead the review to ensure the technology aligns with best practices and community needs. Mayor Gorton emphasized that the panel's focus is not on the Lexington Police Department, which she stated has a strong program with strict governance and audits for ALPR use. The city has already engaged with the local Human Rights Commission, NAACP, and ACLU in setting up the program. The ALPRs in Lexington capture single images of license plates, basic vehicle descriptions, and location data, without video, facial recognition, or remote adjustment capabilities, and are not used for traffic enforcement.
