The Champlain Centre mall in Plattsburgh says automated license plate readers at each of its four entrances and exits help it understand where visitors are coming from. The Press-Republican reported that the mall explained this in a privacy notice it issued after multiple public inquiries.
The mall says the cameras are privately funded and that no taxpayer money pays to install or run them. It also says they are not part of a law enforcement system.
What data do the mall's cameras collect?
According to the notice, each capture can include:
- An image of the vehicle and its license plate
- The plate number and state of registration
- Vehicle characteristics
- The date, time and location of the capture
The mall says it uses this information to produce anonymized, aggregated statistics on where visitors travel from and how often they visit. Raw data is generally kept no more than 30 days. Aggregated information may be kept longer.
The notice says the mall does not sell, rent or license the data, and that it does not use it for 'marketing, advertising, visitor profiling.'
Can police get the mall's plate data?
The mall says it does not voluntarily provide plate data to law enforcement or other government agencies. It also says it may be legally required to share the data under a warrant, subpoena, court order or other valid legal process.
What is the state lawmaker doing?
Assemblyman Michael Cashman (D-Plattsburgh) said he was concerned about the lack of transparency around Flock cameras and related technology at North Country businesses. He said the mall's published policy is a step forward, but that individual companies should not be the ones setting the rules.
Cashman says he continues to work with colleagues on potential legislation covering transparency, data retention, access and disclosure rules, and accountability for misuse. The reporting gives no bill number and no vote date.
What changes for drivers?
The notice covers only the mall's own cameras on its property. Per DeFlock, an app that maps Flock cameras and other plate readers, there are seven in the town of Plattsburgh. Four cover the mall entrances, two cover the entrances to Centre Drive off Route 3, and one points at the I-87 exit 37 off ramp.
Cameras elsewhere in town are not covered by this notice, and the reporting does not say the mall's cameras will be removed. Published transparency records for police agencies are listed on the agencies page.
To find readers near you, check the camera map. For background on how these cameras work, read how plate readers work.
What happens next?
The reporting gives no vote date or deadline for Cashman's proposal. The thing to watch is whether he files the legislation he describes. The mall's full privacy statement is posted on its website at champlaincentre.com/alpr-policy.