Proposal would limit police camera use on utility poles

Utilities would limit permission for covered police cameras on their poles or other structures to 60 days, with exceptions. The rules cover structures owned or operated by public utilities, including municipal utilities and electric cooperatives. They cover city and county police, county sheriffs, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. A lawfully issued warrant or court order would allow permission lasting longer than 60 days. The limit would not apply in public areas zoned for commercial activity or parks and recreation areas run by municipalities. Covered equipment means cameras. It excludes nonvideo equipment and automatic license plate readers that destroy all data within 90 days, except specific data kept for an open investigation. The proposal would take effect upon publication in the statute book if enacted. It died on the calendar and did not become law.

Covered cameras would have to be removed as soon as reasonably possible, and evidence collected after 60 days could not be used in any legal proceeding. These rules concern covered police cameras on utility-owned or operated poles and structures. The removal and evidence rules apply after 60 days if no warrant or court order has been issued. This paragraph does not explain how these rules apply at public locations exempt from the agreement limit.

Utilities would be protected from having to pay damages in civil lawsuits arising from camera permission or agreements that follow these rules. The protection covers public utilities, including municipal utilities and electric cooperatives, for lawsuits tied to their permission or agreement. The utility's permission or agreement must comply with the time-limit and related rules.