North State Congressman James Gallagher says automated license plate reader cameras can help police solve crimes, but he also thinks stronger safeguards are needed.
The Republican congressman was in Chico Thursday to promote his newly introduced Representation Act, a bill that would set nationwide rules for congressional redistricting.
NSPR asked him if he had concerns about license plate reader cameras.
The issue has drawn scrutiny in Chico since reporting by ChicoSol last month revealed Chico police had shared data with ICE and other out-of-state agencies, possibly violating California law.
Here’s what Gallagher had to say about both issues.
“There shouldn't be any abuse of power with them, and there needs to be real oversight and regulation of that.”- James Gallagher, Congressman
‘There needs to be real oversight’ of license plate readers
Gallagher said the AI-powered cameras can be a useful tool, but he said more needs to be done to ensure the technology isn’t used to invade an individual's privacy.
“We obviously should enforce against any bad actor to the fullest extent of the law,” Gallagher said. “But let’s also have things in place that prevent that information from being shared too widely.”
The cameras take photos of passing cars and collect information that law enforcement can search and share with other agencies.
Gallagher said it “seems like there’s too many of these cameras everywhere” and he’s concerned there aren’t enough protections in place around the technology.
“There shouldn't be any abuse of power with them,” Gallagher said. “And there needs to be real oversight and regulation of that.”
He said action needs to be taken to make sure what happened in Chico doesn’t happen somewhere else.
Chico’s police chief says the department has since stopped sharing with out-of-state agencies and is waiting for direction from city leadership after the release of an internal audit.
Chico city councilors are expected to take up the issue at a meeting in September.
Gallagher says redistricting should focus on communities, not parties
Gallagher’s legislation would require states to identify and document “communities of interest” when drawing congressional districts and would generally require states to keep communities with shared identities together.
He posed it as a response to Prop 50, which was designed to favor Democrats after redistricting efforts in Texas favoring Republicans. The move redrew Gallagher’s seat in California’s 1st Congressional District.
In contrast, the Representation Act would draw lines along geographically connected places with similar cultural, historical, economic or social ties.
Proposition 50 changed the political landscape last November, and it threatens to undermine the progress communities like ours have worked so hard to achieve.”- James Gallagher, Congressman
“When we draw those lines, we should be making sure that every place has representation, not that every party has representation,” Gallagher said.
Gallagher called partisan redistricting wrong in both states. He said his bill would make it so residents could take legal action.
Paradise Mayor Steve Crowder joined Gallagher’s press conference in support of the bill. He said California’s new congressional map could weaken the town's recovery after the 2018 Camp Fire, saying the Representation Act would make sure small communities like Paradise have a voice in D.C.
“Proposition 50 changed the political landscape last November, and it threatens to undermine the progress communities like ours have worked so hard to achieve,” Crowder said.
Gallagher introduced the bill last week. It comes as he tries to win a full House term in November.
He’s facing off against Democratic state Senator Mike McGuire.
NSPR reporter Andre Byik contributed to this story.
