Bridgewater committee votes 3-0 to advance police camera ban ordinance
Other Committee · Meeting of August 26, 2026
Bridgewater panel votes 3-0 to send police license-plate-reader ban to council. The Rules and Procedures Committee advanced the ordinance despite objections from Police Chief Steve Del Monte, who cited a 2023 kidnapping case solved with a Flock camera hit in Hartselle, Alabama, and argued "there's no real expectation of privacy for people traveling on public roads." A councilor identified as MJ, who has a competing measure due before the council, pressed Del Monte on "a pattern of misuse" statewide, citing an ACLU report and a New Bedford case; Del Monte disagreed and pointed to the department's 30-day data retention and officer-logging audits. The committee also voted 3-0 to recommend rules for the town's $2,000 senior property-tax work-off program and a new water-impact-study ordinance for major developments, and postponed an earlier, related water ordinance indefinitely.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,784 words
Source: the Other Committee meeting of August 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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