Public Pushback Leads to ALPR Cancellations and Policy Shifts Across the US
A growing backlash against automated license plate readers (ALPRs) is prompting cities and states to re-evaluate their use of the technology.
Drivers are seeing changes in how automated license plate readers (ALPRs) operate across the country as public and official opposition to the technology grows. Over 50 cities and counties have canceled or deactivated ALPR cameras this year, according to ABC News reporting. This includes cameras made by Flock Safety, a prominent provider of ALPR systems.
These policy changes and removals affect how and where your vehicle's movements might be tracked. FlockDetour maps these cameras so you can stay informed on where they are. You can explore our live map at /map.
What's driving the backlash against ALPRs?
The widespread deployment of ALPR cameras has faced significant pushback from privacy advocates and the public. Concerns center on the mass collection of vehicle data, which includes license plate numbers and characteristics, even from drivers not suspected of any crime. Incidents of alleged misuse by law enforcement have further fueled these concerns.
Reported abuses include:
- A police officer in Kentucky allegedly used Flock cameras to track an ex-girlfriend over 2,000 times.
- Six Savannah, Georgia police department employees were fired for alleged abuse of the cameras.
These cases highlight the potential for misuse once such surveillance systems are in place. The non-profit Institute for Justice has identified over 100 incidents of ALPR abuse, including stalking and wrongful stops.
How are states and cities responding?
The rising public unease and reports of misuse have led to concrete policy changes and investigations at various levels of government. For drivers, these actions mean a shifting landscape of surveillance on roads.
Key actions include:
- Florida: The state's transportation office revoked local law enforcement's ability to place license plate readers on state highways.
- Texas: Governor Greg Abbot paused state funding for Flock cameras.
- Pennsylvania: Governor Josh Shapiro expressed openness to a bipartisan bill that would ban Flock cameras statewide.
- Federal Level: Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) announced an investigation into Flock Safety, requesting internal documents from the company.
Flock Safety itself has also made adjustments to its practices. The company recently changed its default data retention period from 30 days to seven days and introduced an "Evidence Mode" for preserving data during active investigations. However, critics argue that these changes do not fully address the fundamental privacy issues associated with mass surveillance.
Drivers interested in learning more about how ALPRs work and their impact can visit our /learn page for background information.
This ongoing debate means that the presence and use of ALPR cameras are subject to change. As more localities review their contracts and policies, the map of surveillance technology will continue to evolve.