Why It Matters
Congress is weighing how to regulate automated license plate readers (ALPR), surveillance technology that law enforcement agencies have deployed across the country with minimal federal oversight. A Congressional Research Service (CRS) insight published September 3 outlines the landscape: there is currently no dedicated federal law governing law enforcement use of these devices, leaving a patchwork of state rules and private vendor practices to fill the gap. Multiple bills pending in Congress would impose new restrictions, require reporting, or mandate upgrades to the technology, each reflecting different views on whether ALPRs need tighter controls or better integration into law enforcement operations.
The Big Picture
ALPRs capture images or videos of passing vehicles and use computer algorithms to convert license plate characters into readable data. The devices retain GPS location, vehicle type and color, timestamps, and can track vehicle location over time depending on data retention policies. Courts have generally held that driving on a public road does not carry a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Law enforcement agencies use ALPRs for both proactive and reactive policing purposes, including gathering intelligence and evidence, helping identify potential suspects, and facilitating crime scene analysis. The technology can potentially be combined with facial recognition technology to identify individuals.
Federal law enforcement agencies are required to publish System of Records Notices about their data collection systems, and information collected by ALPRs may be maintained in public or private systems, accessible to or searchable by law enforcement. Flock Safety, the CRS report notes, operates one of the largest networks of ALPRs in the country and has updated its privacy, accountability, security, and transparency safeguards.
At least eight Washington state law enforcement agencies enabled direct sharing of their ALPR networks with U.S. Border Patrol at some point during 2025. That state, however, has prohibited the use of ALPRs for immigration enforcement purposes through state law.
The Bottom Line
Congress faces competing legislative approaches. Some bills would impose broad prohibitions on federal agencies and require reporting on surveillance practices, but there is no specific federal legislative framework that governs law enforcement use of ALPRs. Considering the current political landscape surrounding immigration enforcement and tracking, the use of ALPRs could also extend beyond the monitoring of mere traffic violations.
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