Portsmouth, New Hampshire drivers can breathe a sigh of relief: the city's police department has confirmed it will not be using automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. This decision was reported by USA Today and comes amidst national debate about the technology's impact on privacy and civil liberties.
Police officials in Portsmouth stated they have no current plans to install or utilize ALPR cameras. This means drivers in Portsmouth will not have their vehicle movements routinely recorded by this specific type of surveillance technology, at least from the local police.
What are license plate reader cameras?
License plate reader cameras, often called ALPRs, are high-speed cameras that automatically capture images of license plates, along with the date, time, and location. This data is then stored and can be used by law enforcement for various purposes, including tracking vehicles of interest or identifying patterns of movement. These systems are distinct from traffic cameras or red-light cameras, as their primary function is to collect and store license plate data.
Many police departments across the country deploy these cameras. For drivers, understanding where these cameras are located is key to understanding your privacy. FlockDetour helps map these locations at /map.
Why are some police departments avoiding ALPRs?
The decision by Portsmouth police to forgo ALPRs reflects growing concerns surrounding the technology. These concerns often center on:
- Potential for abuse: The vast amounts of data collected could be misused or accessed improperly.
- Data collection: ALPRs create extensive databases of ordinary citizens' travel patterns, raising questions about government surveillance.
- Illegal tracking: Worries exist that the data could be used to track individuals without proper legal oversight.
These issues have led to pushback from privacy advocates and some communities. For more background on how ALPRs work and the privacy implications, visit our /learn section.
This move by Portsmouth police means the city will not be adding to the network of surveillance that drivers might encounter elsewhere. For now, the city stands apart from many others that have adopted ALPR technology.