Authorized statements from the ACLU of Puerto Rico regarding House Bill 897

Authorized statements from Annette Martínez Orabona, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico, regarding House Bill 897:

The House Committee on Public Safety issued a positive report on House Bill 897 without holding public hearings or conducting the thorough analysis that this type of bill requires. House Bill 897 would be brought to a vote without prior discussion.

Public safety is a shared goal. However, a bill like this, which considers the use of technologies such as Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs), requires extensive discussion that includes considering and acknowledging the threats and potential violations of constitutional rights associated with this type of technology. The use of these tools is part of a broader objective of mass surveillance of individuals—with or without suspicion of committing crimes or a court order—that should not be overlooked. In the United States, there are numerous examples of the misuse of these types of cameras by law enforcement officers, as well as errors regarding the operation and functioning of these systems.

House Bill 897 should not be brought to a vote without first respecting the public's right to be informed and respond to the use of all measures that jeopardize the protection of their rights to life, privacy, and security.