Proposals now are sitting before committees within both the New York Assembly and Senate that would restrict the use of license plate recognition technology only for law enforcement outlets, not for private businesses such as repossession agencies that might be involved in the recovery process for an auto finance company.

Action in the Empire State’s lower chamber started first as Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz introduced bill No. A5233. What was first read in January then was modified in February and forwarded on to the Assembly Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection, which Dinowitz chairs.

The Assembly measure would prohibit businesses and individuals from using automatic license plate readers and create guidelines for the use of such technology by law enforcement agencies in New York. Should there be a violation, the proposal indicated the punishment would include imprisonment of no more than 15 days, a fine of no more than $1,000 or both.

Dinowitz’s proposal also said a state or local law enforcement agency may use LPR readers and data for information held by the Department of Motor Vehicles, the National Crime Information Center and the FBI for only purposes such as:

— Outstanding parking or traffic violations

— Violation of vehicle registration requirements

— A vehicle in violation of inspection requirements

— A stolen vehicle or stolen license plate

— A vehicle registered to an individual for whom there is an outstanding default or arrest warrant for felony charges

— A vehicle associated with a missing person

Then last week, New York state Sen. Brad Hoylman unveiled bill No. S7245, which contains language nearly identical to what has been introduced in the Assembly. The Senate measure now is in front of the upper chamber’s Consumer Protection Committee.