The Automatic License Plate Reader Act establishes regulations for the use of automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) by law enforcement agencies in New Mexico. The Act defines key terms such as "alert," "automatic license plate reader system," and "license plate data," and permits law enforcement to utilize license plate data for investigatory purposes by comparing it with various state and federal databases. The Act also outlines specific conditions under which license plate data can be manually entered and compared, particularly when vehicles are suspected of being unregistered, uninsured, or involved in criminal activity.

Additionally, the Act imposes strict limitations on the retention of license plate data, mandating that data be deleted after fourteen days unless it is linked to an ongoing investigation or requested for preservation by law enforcement or legal entities. It emphasizes the importance of data security, prohibiting the sharing or selling of license plate data to third parties and requiring law enforcement agencies to adopt policies to protect this information. The Act also mandates annual reporting to the legislature on the usage of ALPR systems, ensuring transparency and accountability while safeguarding individual privacy rights.