Automated License Plate Recognition: The Newest Threat to Your Privacy When You Travel
Law enforcement agencies around the country and across the state have a powerful new tool to effortlessly identify and track you while you drive, and it is a real threat to your privacy.
Automatic License Plate Recognition systems or "ALPR" consist of cameras that are either mounted on a vehicle or a pole. The cameras capture an image of the license plate of every passing vehicle, including cars travelling in the opposite direction and cars parked along the curb. Software then converts the license plate image into text and the system compares the license plate number against a hot list of stolen cars, outstanding warrants, amber alerts, parking violations, suspicious persons, or anything else (we have heard reports of tow truck operators using these devices to identify repos). The hot list database can either be loaded before each shift, or wireless and real time.
When the ALPR matches a license plate, the system notifies the officer, who can immediately pull over the identified vehicle. Regardless of whether there is a match, the system stores the image, license plate number, date, time, and GPS location of every passing vehicle. The newest systems can process one plate per second, or nearly 30,000 plates for every eight-hour shift. A large law enforcement agency with ALPRs installed on even a small percentage of its vehicles could effortlessly record tens of millions of license plates per year.
ALPRs raise serious concerns to your privacy because of the system's ability to monitor and track the movements of ALL vehicles, including those registered to people who are not suspected of any crime. Without restrictions, law enforcement agencies can and do store the data gathered by the license plate readers forever, allowing them to monitor where you have traveled and when you traveled there over an extended period of time. In fact, a key selling point for ALPR vendors is the system’s ability to track drivers. As explained by the Los Angeles Police Department Chief of Detectives, the “real value” of the ALPR “comes from the long-term investigative uses of being able to track vehicles—where they’ve been and what they’ve been doing.” In other words, the cops want to data-mine your driving habits.
ALPR technology has been around for several years, but law enforcement use of the devices has exploded in the past couple of years due to technological advances and significant federal grant money made available. At least 18 Washington law enforcement agencies are using the devices, including the Seattle, Kent and Medina police departments, and the Washington State Patrol currently uses ALPRs at the Seattle and Bainbridge Island ferry terminals, to scan every boarding vehicle.
Currently, Maine and New Hampshire are the only states with laws restricting or limiting ALPR and ALPR data usage. The ACLU of Washington is actively investigating ALPR use in Washington state and will be working to protect your privacy. If you have specific information on how your local police department is using this new technology, please let us know, and keep checking back here for the latest news.
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License Plate Recognition sounds a lot like big brother
What kind of country did our forefathers live and die for?
I Hope we can restore much of the freedoms that existed in the times our GREAT NATION'S Founders. I hope that privacy can be restored.
By the way is there a privacy policy required about this monitoring? Can unreasonable violations of reasonable restrictions on use be criminalized and also have large civil penalties? Is it reasonable to permit it at all? Its it constitutional? If you don't like the law, work on changing it!! Remember: "One Person can change the world in a small way" That Person could very well be YOU!!!
Please look up the word fascism. "14 things that all fascist governments have in common". We have most of them. It is really frightening!
alpr
There is nothing in the constitution that says you have the right to operate a motor viehicle. Furthermore you signed a contract with your state that they can do what they wish in regards to your driving privilage.
In other words quit breaking the law and you have nothing to worry about. Travel by horse and they will not track you.
RJ
ACLU is confused about the law
Brian Alseth! Are you stupid or what?
"The idea of cameras monitoring every highway, boulevard, and alley might strike some Americans as Orwellian. But even the American Civil Liberties Union acknowledges that the public has no right to license plate privacy on public streets. After all, cops can enter plate numbers by hand, so why not by camera?
"There's absolutely no bar on collecting plates in public," says Barry Steinhardt, director of the ACLU's technology and liberty program. "There haven't been any legal challenges, because it's not illegal."
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.03/lapd_pr.html
Which is it, genius?
Searching without Probable Cause
No matter how they try to disguise the issue, it is a search for criminal conduct without probable cause. The issue still stands that we are entitled to the pursuit of liberty to move about without government intrusions based on lack of probable cause. Probable cause to search someones data via a license plate is in fact an intrusion of ones liberty to be free without government intrusion without the officers cognizable intuition that a crime is being committed. To search a supposed persons identity via a license plate to later find criminality is unconstitutional. An officer's surveillance of the public to find criminal conduct is unconstitutional. The nexus of a crime requirement must be first recognizably observed, then comes whether or not a crime is being committed. Fishing expeditions for criminal activity when there is no reasonable nexus to connect the person to a crime is unconstitutional. [See Schmerber]The Fourth Amendment is based on the premise of innocence before probable cause of a crime committed. There's no specified target for surveillance based on a criminal suspect identified by human intuition of a criminal suspect. An ALPR device targets everybody as a criminal suspect, which is unconstitutional.
Do you really think that law
Do you really think that law enforcement has any desire to come up with schemes searching for license plate locations to attempt to "manufacture" a potential crime where none has even been proven to exist?? Give me a break!
As a representative of several law enforcement and federal agencies, I can promise you that noone is out there searching for your activities without some specific reason as to why.
If there is a crime and you are a suspect, then yes... your location and traffic patterns will be scrutinized for possible connections. This is NO different that what a typical detective would do for any investigation. They gather data and analyze it to determine the most likely scenario. Just because they are able to gather more data now than ever before and it comes from a camera and a computer instead of a witness does not make the act illegal, nor does it violate any rights that you have always enjoyed.
It was mentioned above, but if you don't want your government issued license plate to be tracked or monitored, then don't buy or register a vehicle.
Bottom line... if you haven't committed a crime, then no law enforcement agent is going to waste their time trying figure out where you've been and why.
Law must adapt to technology
One person here argues that this technology shouldn't be regulated because it's no different from a cop writing down license plates and checking them against a database. If that were true there would be no reason to use this technology.
Technology changes things, and the law should follow.
Using infrared technology to "see inside" buildings is more than just cops looking at buildings, because they can't see inside them if they just look at them. Using ALPR is more than just cops writing down license plates and checking them against a database, because no cop can write down and enter every passing plate. It's humanly impossible.
So in the same way that the Supreme Court decided that infrared technology changes the game in Kyllo v. United States (look it up, cops), we should all kindly recognize that ALPR changes the game.
The law needs to catch up. Kudos to the ACLU for being one of the few organizations trying to keep up with the attacks on our liberty posed by accelerating technological developments.
Where to read about storage of collected information?
Where can the public find information about how SPD's license plate scanning system works? I'd like to read more about it.
I'm curious what, if any, protections are in place for the information gathered. Checking every license plate a squad car passes on public roads against a database of license plate numbers of stolen vehicles is quite different than building a database of when and where that squad car scanned every license plate it scanned.
Can the ALPR system detect new license plates?
Can the ALPR "license plate readers" tell if you got new license plates from the dmv to avoid getting caught if you on the hot list?
Invasion of Privacy
It is concerning lately the amount of power that is being given to law enforcement. It seem that security technologies are giving officials more and more power to invade privacy. Feeling like I am being watched by video cameras all the time makes me wonder what our society is coming to. I am a law abiding citizen and feel that I am entitled to feel completely secure, but not at the cost of my privacy.
ALPR - Idiots have no clue what their rights are! SHEEPLE!
The idiots thinking driving is a privilege and the "Constitution doesn't give you the right to drive" are PRIME examples of how absolutely STUPID America has become. The Constitution does not GIVE ANY RIGHTS! YOU ARE BORN WITH YOUR RIGHTS! The Constitution is there to protect your rights FROM THE GOVERNMENT! Additionally, laws are passed to restrict RIGHTS, NOT GRANT THEM!
You idiots don't deserve rights when you say such IGNORANT SH!T!
I think that the automated
I think that the automated license plate recognition device is a good idea. I can understand that some people might worry about invasion of privacy, but really it is no different than a police officer reading your license plate and doing a manual check. I would think that this would be a great way to have more success during Amber Alerts, and other serious cases. There are so many cars, buses, moving vans, trucks, etc... on the road that this seems like the simplest solution to monitor all vehicles effectively.
Wow
Wow...I will get the aluminum foil and duct tape. No sound arguments against the practice, no specific (or even general) examples of alleged abuses. EVERYTHING is potentially against the constitution, I suppose. It would be dependent on the breadth of thinking from a conspiracy theorist's mind.
So what all those that are
So what all those that are for the ALPR system are saying is... having rights is a privilege? My, you are an ignorant race, aren't you.
This technology will
This technology will definitely help in bringing the crime level down. Although it is a threat to the privacy but every coin has two sides and we should look towards the better side. And i think this technology will help restoring law.
CCIE Training
No reason to stop them?
How about "none of their goddamn business"?
License plate tracking by public parking lot where stores are
I got a ticket incorrectly for parking over 2 hours in a lot when I was only there about an hour and 10 minutes. I had been there in the morning, however, left, and came back again in the afternoon. The person monitoring the lots said I was there at 8:22 and at 2:24 so they concluded I was there all day. However, I have a receipt showing I was parked downtown at Pacific Place, had an interview at 11AM, went to Subway at 12:49PM and then came back to this lot at 1:10PM. When I called to protest that they did not respond to my letter showing evidence that I was not there for two hours, they responded with all the dates that I had parked in that lot (going back as far as March!) which is collected in their database. They have my name, home address and who knows what else! I feel strongly that my rights have been violated and their data retention is way off base (over 60 days) and that for a public lot, they are stalking me. She wanted to know if I bought things, and as a consumer, just because I park in a lot and go to a store, doesn't mean that I must buy something. I'm amazed at their tactics and want to take them to court for a wrongful ticket. Tracking my movements as a consumer and now making me afraid to go to this parking lot is also stressful. Anyone want to comment on this to me?
ALPR cameras in Redmond WA
Last week I saw a City of Redmond police cruiser with two ALPR cameras mounted on its roof. I tried to find information on how they use collected data, couldn't find anything, so I emailed info@redmond.gov with my question. I got a response next day from a Lieutenant who provided his phone number and a link to device description: http://www.genetec.com/Solutions/Pages/law-enforcement-en.aspx
The device and the software are impressive. I haven't called, I figured I will leave this to journalists and organizations like ACLU to dig deeper.
I agree with most comments: we do need a regulation on use of this technology.
The data that they have
If this is public space and no privacy is to be expected, Why isn't the data public? The system is ripe for misuse.
he data
If it is public and no expectation of privacy allows their data collection, then they should have no problem with allowing public access to the data.
ALPR cameras in Redmond WA
I received more information from Redmond Police Department (policerecordrequests@redmond.gov).
In response to my question on how data collected by ALPR cameras is used:
When the vehicle [police cruiser with ALPR camera] is in service, the license plate information gathered is checked against the current Washington State Patrol list of stolen vehicles. Although the primary use for the information gathered by the camera is related to checking reported stolen vehicles, the database can also be used for other investigational purposes as needed.
In response to my question on whether the data is stored, and for how long:
All the information gathered by the automatic number plate recognition camera is maintained by our department on a secure database. According to our Police IT representative, the information in database program is set purge after one year from the upload date.
ALPR use in NH
I got stopped by the police in Hollis NH and received a summons for operating with a suspended license. The officer told me he was "randomly scanning plates" which is prohibited by NH law RSA 236:130.. I was just driving by and did not commit any crime or driving violation.(Other than being suspended, which I had no idea it was, and had only been for three days at the time I was stopped) This is clearly a case where even though it is prohibited, the police in NH ARE using this technology to monitor all vehicles. I am actually on my way to court this morning to answer this summons.. I will comment back once we have an outcome..Big brother is indeed watching!
WOW.........I think we also
WOW.........I think we also need to go after our employers now to as they monitor our coming and leaving from work with the aid of time clocks! Last time I checked it was not a "right" to operate a vehicle on our great streets, but a priviledge. That being said we also have to register our vehicles with a home address; in some eyes this too is an invasion of privacy. How about we boycott all the private stores we frequent because they also recording equipment. Here's another one for you.....the same cameras used to "track" your cars are used for the good of the people also. It has been reported, at least where I live that these cameras aided in the arrest of a murder suspect! I think if it was my family who lost someone to a crime like that (just one murderer captured is worth it to me) I would be greatful for this technology! Oh yeah, let's just say no to passports also, who needs to know who comes and goes out of our great country? 911
Threat to Your Privacy but,
this technology seems Threat to Your Privacy but if state uses it well it can be really helpful in dealing with many social, criminal problems. Classifieds
Sydney classifieds
Melbourne classifieds
Adelaide classifieds
ALPR
My research found that a private company who is selling most of their ALPR units use a private database that local agencies use. Vigilant Video. What data mining can be sold and used. As the Law enforcement Officers may have good intentions and use the system as a law enforcement tool the data they collect could be sold to who and for what?
As far as the comment that if you are doing nothing wrong than why worry, just look what happens when citizens watch the watchers, its a different story.
alpr
Scary stuff ......we the people need to stand up and stop these privacy invasions......it will just get worse if nothing is done...the nazis tracked people and it didint work out to good over there
Don't argue constitutionality
Why get bogged down in the constitutionality ALPR?
The majority will reject the intrusion.
Spread the word, and make it illegal to use.
Next...
Just vote to make ALPR illegal to use
Why get dragged down to arguing our human rights.
Spread the word and this technology gets shelved.
And, don't forget who's the Boss.
Next...
I want to know what I can do
I want to know what I can do to help stop this..
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