A Bipartisan Amendment Would End Police License Plate Tracking Nationwide
US Representatives Scott Perry and Jesús 'Chuy' García plan to introduce a bipartisan amendment banning federal highway funding recipients from using automated license plate readers (ALPRs) for purposes beyond tolling, effectively ending widespread state and local ALPR programs nationwide. The amendment, attached to a $580 billion transportation bill, targets Title 23-funded roads, which cover most public highways where ALPR cameras are deployed, raising privacy concerns amid documented misuse by agencies like US Customs and Border Protection.
US lawmakers are set to propose a bipartisan amendment Thursday that would prohibit recipients of federal highway funding from using automated license plate readers (ALPRs) for any purpose other than tolling. Sponsored by Representative Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican, and Representative Jesús 'Chuy' García, an Illinois Democrat, the amendment would attach to a $580 billion, five-year reauthorization of federal surface transportation programs. If adopted, it would force states, counties, and municipalities relying on Title 23 funding—covering roughly a quarter of US road mileage—to either remove ALPR cameras or restrict their use to tolling alone. The amendment’s single sentence reads: 'A recipient of assistance under Title 23, United States Code, may not use automated license plate readers for any purpose other than tolling.' ALPRs, mounted on poles, overpasses, and police vehicles, capture license plate data nationwide, feeding into searchable databases shared across law enforcement agencies. Critics argue this creates a de facto warrantless tracking system, with privacy groups like the Brennan Center for Justice and Electronic Frontier Foundation documenting misuse, including targeting of mosques and disproportionate deployment in low-income areas. In Illinois, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias ordered Flock Group, the operator of the country’s largest ALPR network, to halt data sharing with US Customs and Border Protection after an audit found violations of state law. Flock previously denied such arrangements existed, though it paused federal pilots nationwide following the audit. The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The amendment reflects growing bipartisan concern over ALPR surveillance, with Perry and García representing opposing ends of the political spectrum but aligning on privacy risks. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will mark up the underlying bill at 10 am ET Thursday, where the amendment could gain traction amid broader debates over law enforcement technology and civil liberties.
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