Armstrong Backs Rules for License Plate Cameras
North Dakota's governor says he has not reviewed the proposal but supports reasonable regulation of automated license plate recognition cameras.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Elections
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North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong said he supports reasonable regulations for automated license plate recognition cameras, though he has not reviewed the specific proposed legislation. He discussed the issue during an appearance on The Jay Thomas Show.
Why it matters
Armstrong said real-time collection and analysis of information raises privacy concerns beyond traditional surveillance cameras. The debate reflects questions about how state rules should balance public safety tools with data protection for residents in North Dakota.
The proposal would require law enforcement agencies to publicly disclose camera locations and provide 30 days of notice before installing more cameras, while limiting data retention to 14 days. It would also bar cameras near schools, hospitals and places of worship, though the governor said he had not reviewed the bill text.
The players
Kelly Armstrong
Kelly Armstrong is the Governor of North Dakota, a Republican who has been involved in state policy debates over public safety technology and budgeting.
Jay Thomas
Jay Thomas is a radio host whose program The Jay Thomas Show features political interviews with North Dakota officials.
The details
Armstrong discussed the proposals on The Jay Thomas Show after the measure was outlined by host Jay Thomas, who attributed it to Jamie Seltzer. A caller from Aberdeen, S.D., claimed contract provisions could let the company retain or aggregate data independently of law enforcement, a claim that was not independently established during the interview.
Timeline
Monday: Armstrong appeared on The Jay Thomas Show discussing the cameras.
Last week: North Dakota voters rejected Measure 1 and Measure 2, including a measure on school meal funding.
An upcoming special legislative session may take up unpaid school meal debt of approximately $2 million.
Season Trajectory
The proposal places North Dakota within a broader state-by-state effort to define limits on automated license plate recognition, a question that has moved from local police decisions into legislative agendas. Armstrong's comments suggest that the rules may be drafted as statewide standards rather than left entirely to local governments.
If adopted, the proposal would require police agencies to publicly list camera locations and give 30 days' notice before adding cameras, affecting how residents learn about surveillance in their communities. Limits on retaining plate data to 14 days and bans near schools, hospitals and places of worship would shape where cameras can operate.
The takeaway
Residents interested in how license plate cameras are used locally can ask their city or county law enforcement agencies for camera locations and data retention policies, which the proposal would require to be disclosed.
What happens next
Lawmakers may address unpaid school meal debt during an upcoming special legislative session.
Further reading
For more on the state's ballot results, see Elections coverage in North Dakota.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WDAY Radio - AM 970 and FM 93.1.
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