By way of explanation, I helped negotiate Flock cameras for my last agency. We approached the county sheriff and asked to piggyback on their contract to keep our costs down and to add several cameras to Star-Man’s system. It was mutually beneficial.
A few years back, there was no controversy over the existence or use of the automated license plate readers (ALPRs). My first department had been using them going back at least six years. We did not have a single complaint about their use in solving crimes or finding missing persons.
I feel the angst over the ALPRs started when their misuse by unscrupulous officers and deputies became known to the general public. By illegally using them to track ex-spouses, girl or boyfriends, family members, or other targeted individuals, the ALPRs exposure as a “surveillance” platform became a widespread belief.
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