Certain police grants would require reports on plate reader abuse

Recipients would report to the U.S. attorney general, who would publish the reports online. Reports would cover access that breaks state or local law or agency policy, plus reader-related convictions for listed crimes such as stalking, assault, and identity theft. Reports would say whether each officer faced corrective action, which could include suspension or firing. Reporting would start in the first fiscal year beginning after enactment and cover each year the government receives these grants.

The U.S. attorney general would apply the required percentage cut to each grant program. The rules cover state and local governments. Covered officers include those who broke rules for accessing reader data or were convicted of listed crimes involving readers. The 10% cut would apply if the government failed to take corrective action against an officer covered by the reporting rule. Corrective action could include suspension or firing. Each cut would apply to the fiscal year following the failure.

States and local governments would have to allow audits by the Justice Department’s inspector general to qualify for Byrne or COPS grants. Audits would check whether police agencies took the corrective actions covered by the reporting rule. The inspector general would decide which audits are appropriate.