Governor cuts Sen. Petersen bill to protect Virginians from government surveillance

Published Friday, Mar. 27, 2015, 4:54 pm Join AFP's 100,000+ followers on Facebook Purchase a subscription to AFP | Subscribe to AFP podcasts on iTunes News, press releases, letters to the editor: augustafreepress2@gmail.com Advertising inquiries: freepress@ntelos.net

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Senator Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax City) has received notice from Virginia Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran that the Governor of Virginia, Terence R. McAuliffe, will amend his bill to protect citizens from government surveillance.

The Governor will make two significant amendments to the bill: (SB 965)

The first amendment will eliminate the seven (7) day limit for government retention of personally identifying data, replacing the time with a 60 day limit.

The second amendment will eliminate the inclusion of all surveillance technologies, and make the bill only applicable for license plate readers (LPRs).

Statement of Senator Petersen upon receiving notice that his bill will be dramatically amended

“These surveillance technologies are Big Government infringing on the rights of Virginians to live their lives in peace without government scrutiny. Given the nature of these amendments, which defeat that right, I would have rather had the Governor veto the bill.”

Senator Petersen previously founded the Ben Franklin Liberty Caucus along with Delegate Rich Anderson (R-Prince William), a bipartisan group of legislators committed to protecting personal privacy in the Commonwealth.

The ACLU of Virginia supported Senator Petersen’s bill, and will issue a statement opposing the Governor’s amendments shortly.

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