Placement of automated license plate readers provision in trunk highway right-of-way

SF 1639 amends Minnesota Statutes section 161.434 to allow local governments to obtain permits from the commissioner to place automated license plate readers (ALPRs) within trunk highway rights-of-way. The bill requires the commissioner to establish a permit process with safety and highway function safeguards, limiting ALPR placement to highway purposes only. This directly affects cities and counties seeking to use ALPRs for traffic monitoring or law enforcement along state highways. The key provision creates a formal process for local governments to deploy these devices while ensuring they don’t interfere with highway operations.