In a rare instance of too much transparency, an Ohio police department released the precise movements of a particular vehicle in response to a public records request, showing just how invasive license plate reading technology can be.
red light and speed cameras are illegal in my state
This doesn’t ban license plate reader cameras. My state also bans red light and speed cameras, but automatic license plate readers are 100% legal. I have seen the ALPL systems firsthand, and know they’re in use. You wouldn’t even notice them, because they’re mounted on traffic lights and power lines. It’s not like red light cameras, where they have a blatantly obvious giant camera box.
My local municipality 100% uses ALPLs, and has referenced them in a number of arrests recently. They’re mostly used for Amber Alert situations, where police already have a description of what to look for. In these cases, the ALPL will basically allow them to track the car in real time, without even needing to follow the car. Because they simply get updates every time the car passes an intersection, so they can set up a stop ahead of where the person is traveling.
It’s very possible the police have scanned my license plate, and imo that’s totally fine, provided my car is in public and one of the above apply.
From those:
I have no warrants, so this doesn’t apply
Could happen to anyone, but chances are very low
I’m obviously not a commercial vehicle
Possible, but unlikely. I drive old, crappy cars, so my car is unlikely to be similar to a stolen car.
Again, possible, but I don’t commit crimes worth tracking via license plate. Any crimes I do commit would likely fall under traffic violations.
I try very hard to not give police reasonable, articulable suspicion. If stopped, I give short answers and have yet to have a problem.
Police are lazy, so they’re unlikely to use ALPR data unless they have a good reason. I intend to never give them that good reason.
I go after the low-hanging fruit so as to not arouse suspicion and protect me if there is suspicion. Going any further (e.g. trying to fool ALPR systems) goes against that. If I’m on public roads, I assume my car can be tracked, so I drive carefully and keep my car properly maintained. I also store any potential contraband out of view so as to not raise suspicion if I am stopped.
It would be nice to go even further, but I’m not going to break the law to try to hide, I’m going to blend in instead.
This doesn’t ban license plate reader cameras. My state also bans red light and speed cameras, but automatic license plate readers are 100% legal. I have seen the ALPL systems firsthand, and know they’re in use. You wouldn’t even notice them, because they’re mounted on traffic lights and power lines. It’s not like red light cameras, where they have a blatantly obvious giant camera box.
My local municipality 100% uses ALPLs, and has referenced them in a number of arrests recently. They’re mostly used for Amber Alert situations, where police already have a description of what to look for. In these cases, the ALPL will basically allow them to track the car in real time, without even needing to follow the car. Because they simply get updates every time the car passes an intersection, so they can set up a stop ahead of where the person is traveling.
Here’s the state code (Utah) on license plate readers:
It’s very possible the police have scanned my license plate, and imo that’s totally fine, provided my car is in public and one of the above apply.
From those:
I go after the low-hanging fruit so as to not arouse suspicion and protect me if there is suspicion. Going any further (e.g. trying to fool ALPR systems) goes against that. If I’m on public roads, I assume my car can be tracked, so I drive carefully and keep my car properly maintained. I also store any potential contraband out of view so as to not raise suspicion if I am stopped.
It would be nice to go even further, but I’m not going to break the law to try to hide, I’m going to blend in instead.