Jen's Two Cents.

AZ Election Bill Targeting Presidential Candidates Adds “Incapacitation.” They Didn’t Say Who Decides.

Jen's Two Cents. — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 20:35:00 GMT

Who Controls the Outcome?

Who decides what happens when something goes wrong after voters have already made their choice?

An anonymous source raised a series of concerns to Jen’s Two Cents about legislation now moving through the Arizona Legislature — questions that go beyond what the bill says on paper and how it would function in practice.

Arizona Senate…

Built for Kids. Applied to Everyone: Arizona's Push to Turn Parents into Gatekeepers and Platforms into Enforcers

Jen's Two Cents. — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:16:45 GMT

Yesterday, all eyes were on the privacy bill in the Arizona Senate. Sen. Jake Hoffman’s striker to HB2917 advanced with a 6–1 Do Pass recommendation. It’s a landmark proposal that, on paper, would impose one of the most restrictive frameworks on government vehicle surveillance in Arizona.

But while attention was fixed on that vote, something else moved a…

A First-of-Its-Kind Government Mass Surveillance Proposal Gets First Hearing in Arizona

Jen's Two Cents. — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:39:07 GMT

Arizona’s so-called “Wild West” of mass vehicle surveillance could soon face its first meaningful limits.

State Senator Jake Hoffman has introduced a striker to HB2917 that would fundamentally change how license plate reader systems are used across the state.

Hb2917 S

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At its core, the proposal sets a clear threshold: no local government or state agency may operate…

Scale of the System: Records Indicate Arizona Vehicle Surveillance Networks Can Reach 95,000+ Cameras

Jen's Two Cents. — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:46:20 GMT

Law enforcement agencies across Arizona have raised concerns about shrinking staffing levels and have increasingly turned to technology to supplement operations. As surveillance tools expand, the balance between public safety and personal privacy is no longer abstract. It can be examined through available data.

Across the state, departments are using aut…

Weaponizing Kindness: When “Protect the Kids” Laws Expand Arizona's Government Control

Jen's Two Cents. — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 21:51:02 GMT

“We have spent, you have spent, so much time telling people how horrible government K-12 is. Now you’re asking that same government to help you verify your children’s age before they can get on. That mentality of going to government to pass bills to do what you should be doing as parents is a lot of how we got here.”
-Alvin Lui | Courage is a Habit

Avondale Police to Ask for 58 More License Plate Readers Amid Recruitment Challenges

Jen's Two Cents. — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:18:57 GMT

Like many police departments across Arizona, Avondale is navigating the challenges of staffing shortages while trying to maintain service levels in a growing community.

In 2025, the department hired 21 sworn officers. During that same period, three officers retired and 11 separated from the department. According to Police Chief Memo Espinoza, a significa…

AI Impacts on Children Protections, Privacy, and the Workforce in Arizona

Jen's Two Cents. — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 20:22:49 GMT

Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly raising urgent questions about child safety, digital privacy, and the future of the workforce.

How are these issues affecting Arizona and the nation?

In this exclusive interview, I sit down with AI and digital privacy advocate Julie Barrett to discuss what these changes could mean for families, children, and so…

Will Arizona Parents Have to Prove Their Kids’ Identity to Download Apps?

Jen's Two Cents. — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 20:35:25 GMT

Will Arizona parents soon be asked to hand over their children’s birth certificates…

Their Social Security numbers…

Or other sensitive identity documents…

Just to download an app?

That’s the question now emerging at the Arizona Capitol as lawmakers advance House Bill 2920 — part of a wave of legislation appearing in states across the country and promoted as…

Same, Benn. Same: Inside Arizona’s Fight Over License Plate Readers and Transparency

Jen's Two Cents. — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 21:54:55 GMT

Imagine my surprise when I woke up this morning and saw Benn Jordan discussing my video about Flock Safety.

Specifically, he was referencing the clip I edited of Flock’s PR representative, testifying in Prescott… the long delayed public meeting the city held only after the cameras were already installed and collecting data.

You know, the meeting that happ…

How One Everyday Arizonan Sparked a National Conversation on Surveillance

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 16:11:34 GMT

I’m truly thrilled to share that “Sandy from Sedona” is getting well-deserved national recognition. 💛

The Sandy I’m talking about is Sandy Boyce — the everyday citizen who led the successful effort to have the Flock cameras removed in Sedona. She’s now been named “Hero of the Week” by the Solari Report, and it couldn’t be more fitting.

I had the chance t…

Prescott Defends ALPR Program; Flock Addresses What It Calls Misconceptions

Jen's Two Cents. — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 22:28:46 GMT

Prescott police and city officials used Tuesday’s study session to firmly defend the city’s use of automated license plate readers, framing the technology as a narrowly controlled investigative tool — not surveillance — while pushing back against what they described as widespread misinformation and public mistrust fueled by viral claims and social media.

Alleged Prescott Email Trail: Keeping Camera Locations Quiet While Predicting Public Backlash

Jen's Two Cents. — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 19:00:06 GMT

Explosive public records reportedly from the City of Prescott were discussed on a local podcast this weekend — emails that appear to show behind-the-scenes conversations about installing automated license plate readers (ALPRs) while keeping the rollout out of public view, at least initially.

Tracking Plates, Hiding Partners: Residents Mobilize as Arizona Moves to Restrict FOIA

Jen's Two Cents. — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 18:58:23 GMT

Cities across Arizona are moving to lock down public access to information about their AI-powered license plate reader systems, even as law enforcement ask city councils for more taxpayer dollars to expand and grow the surveillance technology. The latest story from the Arizona Republic mentioned my FOIA Flock File and how I am the first and last residen…

Photo Radar Showdown: Cash Cows, Conflict Claims, and a Vote to Send it to Voters

Jen's Two Cents. — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 04:00:59 GMT

Arizona’s long-running photo radar debate just escalated — and the power to end it may soon land in voters’ hands as the 2026 legislative session gets underway.

ABOUT THE RESOLUTION

SCR 1004, sponsored by Sen. Wendy Rogers (R-LD7) and co-sponsored by Sen. Mark Finchem, was heard in the Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology Committee Tuesday…

Arizona Skies: Can’t-Miss Spring Air Shows + Airport Eats

Jen's Two Cents. — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 13:03:51 GMT

With our wide-open skies and a strong aviation community, Arizona is a dream for airplane fans of all kinds — from kids who can spot an aircraft in seconds to adults who just love a good runway view. And with spring shaping up to be an especially fun season, we’ve pulled together several can’t-miss events to add to your calendar — including Luke Days Op…

Artificial Intelligence Meets Arizona Roads: The Legislative Session That Could Redefine Your Right to Know

Jen's Two Cents. — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:59:08 GMT

Just eight days into the 2026 Legislative Session, 1,214 bills have already been introduced. The first has already been vetoed by the governor, a GOP budget bill.

As we dig through what’s coming next, one theme is already emerging: surveillance is expanding, and transparency is being tested.

Privacy is not a right or left issue. Through my reporting, I’m …

New Bill Would Codify License Plate Readers in Arizona Law—And Limit Public Records Requests

Jen's Two Cents. — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 19:48:11 GMT

Police departments across Arizona are under real strain—short staffing, nonstop calls for service, and the daily reality of making split-second decisions in unpredictable situations. Technology can help close that gap, and license plate readers are one tool agencies say can quickly locate stolen vehicles, identify suspects, and solve crimes faster. But …

Breaking: Arizona Lawmaker Urges Relief for Mesa Drivers After FOIA Reveals Outdated Judges’ Signatures on Citations

Jen's Two Cents. — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 23:51:05 GMT

An Arizona lawmaker is calling for thousands of traffic citations issued by the City of Mesa to be invalidated, refunded, and removed from drivers’ records after Jen’s Two Cents uncovered through FOIA that judicial signatures appearing on citations did not belong to the presiding judges at the time they were issued.

The issue involves civil traffic citat…

Where a Key Local Surveillance Conversation Is Happening Tonight

Jen's Two Cents. — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 21:37:37 GMT

As the new year begins, fresh developments surrounding AI-driven vehicle surveillance are already emerging. Several updates surfaced over the holiday break, and a public meeting tonight at 6 p.m., January 5, 2026, at Founding Fathers Collective in Prescott, Arizona, signals that the debate over license plate readers and automated vehicle monitoring is m…

Mesa’s Photo Radar Failure Sparks Renewed Scrutiny of Enforcement Statewide

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 22:25:34 GMT

Mesa’s photo-radar system logged thousands of traffic citations bearing the wrong judge’s signature. Cited drivers were never told. And it wasn’t the first time this error occurred.

New public records obtained from the City of Mesa confirm that 2,446 photo-enforcement citations issued by the Mesa Police Department between April and September 2024 carried a judicial signature not belonging to the presiding magistrate at the time.

The citations were generated through the city’s photo radar program, which relies on third-party vendor Verra Mobility for citation processing, and continued to display a digitally applied judge’s signature after a change in the presiding magistrate.

Read the Report.

It’s a flaw I identified in earlier public records. And one the city now acknowledges publicly, but maintains did not legally invalidate the citations.

Internal communications I found reveal the error was known by late July 2024, but not corrected until early September.

The new records I’ve received confirm the errors were never disclosed to affected drivers.

“The City of Mesa has no records indicating that drivers were notified regarding the incorrect judge’s signatures. Under Rule 8 of the Arizona Rules of Court Procedure for Civil Traffic, Boating, Marijuana, and Parking and Standing Violations, a citation (complaint) is legally sufficient if it contains either a written description or the statutory or local ordinance, charter, rule, or regulation designation of the alleged violation. The City is not required to notify drivers of the incorrect judge’s signature. Accordingly, the City of Mesa has no records showing that any refunds or reimbursements were issued as a result.”
City of Mesa | December 22, 2025 | FOIA Records Request

No citations were dismissed. None were reissued. No refunds were issued. And according to the city, none were required.

A Repeat Mistake — With Tens of Thousands Affected

The 2024 incident was not an anomaly. Records obtained through my public records request show the City of Mesa allowed the same error to persist on a massive scale years earlier.

“There was a prior occurrence after Presiding City Magistrate Judge Matias (Matt) Tafoya retired June 30, 2020 and Judge John Tatz became Presiding Magistrate July 1, 2020. Judge Tafoya’s signature was used for several months after his retirement. There were 43,096 citations issued by the Mesa Police Department with Judge Tafoya’s signature between July 1, 2020 and May 5, 2021 according to Mesa Municipal Court. As we mentioned above, these citations were legally sufficient pursuant to Rule 8 of the Arizona Rules of Court Procedure.”
City of Mesa | December 22, 2025 | FOIA Records Request

Integrity of the Adjudicatory Process Questioned

The City of Mesa is now in the hot seat with Arizona state lawmaker Rep. Teresa Martinez filing this letter demanding answers.

Jen’s Two Cents will continue reporting on the transparency, enforcement, and legislative questions surrounding this issue throughout the 2026 session.

A Familiar Fight Resurfaces: Who Should Control Photo Radar?

Just before the holidays, I broke news that AZ Senators Rogers and Finchem revived a familiar fight… whether profit-driven photo enforcement should exist at all.

SCR 1004, a resolution, moves to put that decision in voters’ hands.

In 2025, a similar resolution to let Arizona voters decide ultimately failed, not because of debate on the merits, but because there weren’t enough Republicans present to carry the vote.

State Representative Alex Kolodin exposed the maneuver by House Speaker Montenegro, saying the absence was no accident. He says the procedural trick doomed the measure before it had a real chance.

Throughout 2025, I reported on photo radar as an independent journalist. Tracking legislation, public records, and the real-world consequences of enforcement decisions. That work will continue in 2026 with the same focus on transparency, accountability, and facts.

Follow me on X for breaking news and ongoing coverage.

Jen’s Two Cents.

My investigation into taxpayer-funded grants supporting automated license plate readers [ALPR] systems continues, as well.

An 882-page document shared with me by the Electronic Frontier Foundation shows Arizona border security funds flowing into ALPR technology.

This system runs deep, and as global privacy concerns intensify, especially around digital ID, my work will continue into the new year.