Connecticut probes license plate readers

Published May 27, 2026 by The Daily Scout

- Connecticut Democratic leaders sent letters on May 26 to Home Depot and Lowe’s seeking details on automated license plate readers at stores statewide. - Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said lawmakers want to know “who owns the information” and whether it is shared with ICE or others. - The companies were asked eight questions on retention, warrants and sharing; responses would go to Connecticut legislative leaders.

Why it matters

Connecticut lawmakers have moved this week from local concern to a formal inquiry. On May 26, Democratic leaders in the state Senate and House said they sent letters to Home Depot and Lowe’s asking how the chains collect, store and share data from automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, at Connecticut stores. The push followed local reporting that cameras had been spotted in parking lots at some Home Depot and Lowe’s locations, including in Newington and Milford. NBC Connecticut reported on May 6 that a Lowe’s in Newington had an ALPR at the entrance, while WTNH reported on May 26 that lawmakers and residents were raising privacy concerns. (senatedems.ct.gov) This is the basic dispute: retailers say the cameras are a theft-prevention and safety tool, while lawmakers are asking what happens to the data once a customer drives onto private property. Connecticut’s new ALPR law covers state and local government use, but legislators said the Home Depot and Lowe’s systems raise separate questions because they are operated by private companies. (nbcconnecticut.com) ### What are the cameras collecting when a customer pulls in? NBC Connecticut reported that the camera systems capture images of vehicles and license plates, along with the date, time and general location. Lowe’s says on its website that ALPRs are used at some locations near parking areas. WTNH reported that the two chains confirmed on their websites that they use ALPRs. (senatedems.ct.gov) Home Depot said the cameras are used “solely as a security measure to prevent theft and protect the safety of our customers and associates in our stores.” ### Why are lawmakers involved now? Connecticut Senate and House Democratic leaders said in their May 26 statement that they asked eight questions of Lowe’s CEO Marvin R. (nbcconnecticut.com) Ellison and Home Depot CEO Edward Decker. Those questions include whether Connecticut stores use ALPRs, how long data is retained, whether judicial warrants are required before sharing information with law enforcement, and whether out-of-state agencies can get access. (wtnh.com) Bob Duff, the state Senate majority leader, told WTNH that lawmakers want to know “what these companies are doing with the information, who owns the information, is it being sent to federal officers, is it being sent to ICE?” The legislative letter said ALPRs can be useful for security and theft prevention but also “have the potential to be misused to track Connecticut residents,” including in ways that could enable stalking or harassment. (senatedems.ct.gov) ### What have the companies said about sharing and retention? Home Depot said in the statement quoted by WTNH that it does not grant federal law enforcement access to its license plate readers. (wtnh.com) Lowe’s said on its website, as cited by WTNH and NBC Connecticut, that ALPR data is stored for no more than 90 days and that it does not sell ALPR information. (senatedems.ct.gov) NBC Connecticut also reported that Lowe’s says it shares ALPR information only with its service provider and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, unless disclosure is required by law or legal process. Home Depot’s privacy policy, NBC said, states that it does not sell or share the information with a third party. (wtnh.com) ### Why does this go beyond one parking lot in Connecticut? 404 Media reported in August 2025 that records obtained through a public records request showed law enforcement agencies could access data from large networks of Flock Safety cameras connected to Lowe’s and Home Depot locations in other states. The report said private-company cameras had more restrictive sharing options than government-run systems, but it also described a broader surveillance network that police could search. (nbcconnecticut.com) That earlier reporting is part of why Connecticut lawmakers are asking not just whether cameras exist, but who can search the data and under what rules. Their letter was sent after Governor Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 397 this month, a law that regulates public-agency use and retention of ALPR data in Connecticut. (404media.co) ### What happens next? The May 26 letters put the next step on the companies. Connecticut legislative leaders said they want Home Depot and Lowe’s to answer eight written questions about use, retention, warrants and access at their Connecticut locations. Public Act 26-14, the Connecticut law cited by lawmakers, says restrictions on public-agency or contracted private-vendor operation of ALPR systems take effect on October 1, 2026. (senatedems.ct.gov) For now, the immediate public record to watch is any response from Home Depot, Lowe’s or Connecticut legislative leaders about the stores’ data practices. (cga.ct.gov)

Key numbers

Connecticut Democratic leaders sent letters on May 26 to Home Depot and Lowe’s seeking details on automated license plate readers at stores statewide.
On May 26, Democratic leaders in the state Senate and House said they sent letters to Home Depot and Lowe’s asking how the chains collect, store and share data from automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, at Connecticut stores.
NBC Connecticut reported on May 6 that a Lowe’s in Newington had an ALPR at the entrance, while WTNH reported on May 26 that lawmakers and residents were raising privacy concerns.
Connecticut Senate and House Democratic leaders said in their May 26 statement that they asked eight questions of Lowe’s CEO Marvin R.

What happens next

On May 26, Democratic leaders in the state Senate and House said they sent letters to Home Depot and Lowe’s asking how the chains collect, store and share data from automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, at Connecticut stores.
NBC Connecticut reported on May 6 that a Lowe’s in Newington had an ALPR at the entrance, while WTNH reported on May 26 that lawmakers and residents were raising privacy concerns.
Connecticut Senate and House Democratic leaders said in their May 26 statement that they asked eight questions of Lowe’s CEO Marvin R.

Sources

Quick answers

What happened in Connecticut probes license plate readers?

Connecticut Democratic leaders sent letters on May 26 to Home Depot and Lowe’s seeking details on automated license plate readers at stores statewide. Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said lawmakers want to know “who owns the information” and whether it is shared with ICE or others. The companies were asked eight questions on retention, warrants and sharing; responses would go to Connecticut legislative leaders.

Why does Connecticut probes license plate readers matter?

Connecticut lawmakers have moved this week from local concern to a formal inquiry. On May 26, Democratic leaders in the state Senate and House said they sent letters to Home Depot and Lowe’s asking how the chains collect, store and share data from automated license plate readers, or ALPRs, at Connecticut stores. The push followed local reporting that cameras had been spotted in parking lots at some Home Depot and Lowe’s locations, including in Newington and Milford. NBC Connecticut reported on May 6 that a Lowe’s in Newington had an ALPR at the entrance, while WTNH reported on May 26 that lawmakers and residents were raising privacy concerns. (senatedems.ct.gov) This is the basic dispute: retailers say the cameras are a theft-prevention and safety tool, while lawmakers are asking what happens to the data once a customer drives onto private property. Connecticut’s new ALPR law covers state and local government use, but legislators said the Home Depot and Lowe’s systems raise separate questions because they are operated by private companies. (nbcconnecticut.com) What are the cameras collecting when a customer pulls in? NBC Connecticut reported that the camera systems capture images of vehicles and license plates, along with the date, time and general location. Lowe’s says on its website that ALPRs are used at some locations near parking areas. WTNH reported that the two chains confirmed on their websites that they use ALPRs. (senatedems.ct.gov) Home Depot said the cameras are used “solely as a security measure to prevent theft and protect the safety of our customers and associates in our stores.” Why are lawmakers involved now? Connecticut Senate and House Democratic leaders said in their May 26 statement that they asked eight questions of Lowe’s CEO Marvin R. (nbcconnecticut.com) Ellison and Home Depot CEO Edward Decker. Those questions include whether Connecticut stores use ALPRs, how long data is retained, whether judicial warrants are required before sharing information with law enforcement, and whether out-of-state agencies can get access. (wtnh.com) Bob Duff, the state Senate majority leader, told WTNH that lawmakers want to know “what these companies are doing with the information, who owns the information, is it being sent to federal officers, is it being sent to ICE?” The legislative letter said ALPRs can be useful for security and theft prevention but also “have the potential to be misused to track Connecticut residents,” including in ways that could enable stalking or harassment. (senatedems.ct.gov) What have the companies said about sharing and retention? Home Depot said in the statement quoted by WTNH that it does not grant federal law enforcement access to its license plate readers. (wtnh.com) Lowe’s said on its website, as cited by WTNH and NBC Connecticut, that ALPR data is stored for no more than 90 days and that it does not sell ALPR information. (senatedems.ct.gov) NBC Connecticut also reported that Lowe’s says it shares ALPR information only with its service provider and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, unless disclosure is required by law or legal process. Home Depot’s privacy policy, NBC said, states that it does not sell or share the information with a third party. (wtnh.com) Why does this go beyond one parking lot in Connecticut? 404 Media reported in August 2025 that records obtained through a public records request showed law enforcement agencies could access data from large networks of Flock Safety cameras connected to Lowe’s and Home Depot locations in other states. The report said private-company cameras had more restrictive sharing options than government-run systems, but it also described a broader surveillance network that police could search. (nbcconnecticut.com) That earlier reporting is part of why Connecticut lawmakers are asking not just whether cameras exist, but who can search the data and under what rules. Their letter was sent after Governor Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 397 this month, a law that regulates public-agency use and retention of ALPR data in Connecticut. (404media.co) What happens next? The May 26 letters put the next step on the companies. Connecticut legislative leaders said they want Home Depot and Lowe’s to answer eight written questions about use, retention, warrants and access at their Connecticut locations. Public Act 26-14, the Connecticut law cited by lawmakers, says restrictions on public-agency or contracted private-vendor operation of ALPR systems take effect on October 1, 2026. (senatedems.ct.gov) For now, the immediate public record to watch is any response from Home Depot, Lowe’s or Connecticut legislative leaders about the stores’ data practices. (cga.ct.gov)