Md. Bills to Set Limits on Crime-Fighting Devices

Maryland lawmakers are sponsoring four bills they say will set rules that law enforcement in Maryland must follow–like making sure police have warrants before tracking cell phones, reports CBS affiliate WJZ in Baltimore.

A proposed law would not allow police to store information scanned by license plate readers for up to a year–as they now do. Anne Arundel County Police Chief Kevin Davis says keeping those records for a year assists in investigations.

Though no Maryland police agency currently uses drones, lawmakers say it’s time to get ahead of the curb and regulate drone use by police.

Some of the privacy bills are expected to meet opposition from Maryland law enforcement groups who will argue that changes in the law would limit their ability to fight crime.