Source: Independent Institute
by Jonathan Hofer
“As many are likely already aware, automated license plate readers (ALPRs) are high-speed cameras that can identify vehicles as they pass and record their time and location. Over the last decade, the technology has rapidly expanded across American roads and is found in nearly every major city. In a recent posting, I offered a rough estimate of how many ALPRs are deployed in California, suggesting the number is plausibly in the 9.3k–14.9k range, well above the 5k documented in the best records of the technology. However, there has been considerably less attention paid to whether or not the number of ALPRs changes the constitutional calculus. I argue that it does, and that it may render some elements of ALPRs unconstitutional.” (05/12/26)
https://www.independent.org/article/2026/05/12/license-plate-reader-baton-passing/