This privacy bill could endanger WA domestic violence victims | Opinion

Washington State has come a long way in protecting victims of domestic violence since the Domestic Violence Protection Act of 1979. Unfortunately, it still has a long way to go.

I have serious concerns around SB 6002 restricting how public safety entities can use automated license plate reader data (ALPR) in our state. We should be using every tool available to protect domestic violence victims.

As the bill is currently written, law enforcement could only use ALPR data for felonies. Most domestic violence cases fall under gross misdemeanors, meaning ALPR could not be used — failing victims who need the most protection against their abusers.

Gloria Choi was a young mother who had a domestic violence protection order (DVPO) from a judge in Thurston County against her ex-boyfriend. In 2021, he proceeded to break that DVPO repeatedly, each time being its own standalone misdemeanor crime. The situation was highly lethal however, and tragically, Choi was murdered by her abuser a month later.

As a civil wrongful death attorney, I believe that victims of domestic violence deserve the utmost protection. Washington law enforcement should retain the ability to use responsibly-regulated public safety tools, like ALPR cameras, in these situations, so we can continue to uphold the promise made in 1979 to take care of victims.

While there is a lot of misinformation out there, ALPRs are a way to help public safety move forward. Gross misdemeanors, and crimes of domestic violence and stalking need to be taken seriously in this legislation, and I hope that the legislature will consider amending SB 6002 to reflect that.

Meaghan Driscoll is a plaintiff’s civil trial attorney. Her practice focuses on a broad range of civil litigation; including cases involving complex personal injuries, civil rights, police misconduct, sex abuse, government liability and employment discrimination.