Automatic License Plate Readers Face Growing State Restrictions in 2026

Technology has spurred another political backlash, this one emerging and spreading at a rapid pace: automatic license plate readers (ALPRs). In the past weeks, both Florida and Texas have taken executive action to ban the cameras from state roads, and localities across the country are quickly restricting the use of ALPRs after embracing them in the past. ALPRs have become an increasingly common tool for law enforcement, allowing agencies to quickly identify vehicles connected to crimes and investigations. But as ALPR networks have expanded and the technology has become more sophisticated, lawmakers and privacy advocates have raised concerns about the ability to collect, retain, and share vast amounts of information about where people travel, prompting a new wave of proposed legislation in states this year.

How Automatic License Plate Readers Work

ALPRs collect license plate numbers and other information about a vehicle, including identifying features such as cracks and stickers, along with the date, time, and location where the vehicle was observed. This information can be stored in a searchable database and used to track the movements of vehicles over time. ALPR cameras are commonly mounted on light poles, traffic lights, buildings, and bridges, but can also be installed on law enforcement vehicles.

Privacy and Civil Liberties Concerns

ALPR systems can compare collected data against various databases, including law enforcement “hot lists,” which contain license plates associated with people or vehicles of interest. In some jurisdictions, law enforcement can search ALPR data without obtaining a warrant, raising questions about privacy, oversight, and the potential for widespread surveillance.

This technology has existed for decades, but recent advances in artificial intelligence, combined with the proliferation of systems, have significantly increased the volume and types of information that can be collected. Privacy advocates have raised alarms over the misuse of the technology by law enforcement officials. For example, reports of police officers using ALPR databases to search for information about people in their personal lives—rather than in connection with suspected violations of the law—have prompted renewed civil liberties concerns.

State Legislative and Executive Actions on ALPRs

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) recently issued an executive order governing how ALPRs can be used, and lawmakers in Indiana, Nevada, Ohio, Utah, and Virginia have indicated they will consider the topic next session. Proposed regulations have centered on when ALPRs can be used, who has access to ALPR data, and how long data can be retained.

Limits on ALPR Use

Because ALPR databases contain information about millions of vehicles with no connection to criminal activity, lawmakers have sought to prevent agencies from searching the data without a legitimate law enforcement or public safety purpose. Washington lawmakers enacted a law (WA SB 6002) that details when ALPR data may be used in investigations, including cases involving stolen vehicles, missing or endangered persons, individuals with outstanding felony or gross misdemeanor warrants, and vehicles connected to felonies or gross misdemeanors, as well as certain parking enforcement and transportation purposes.

Restrictions on ALPR Data Access and Sharing

The issue of ALPR data sharing gained prominence earlier this year as Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation to restrict access by federal immigration authorities and out-of-state law enforcement agencies investigating abortions or other activities that are legal in the state where the data was collected. New Mexico enacted a law (NM SB 40) prohibiting the sharing of ALPR data for immigration enforcement or investigations involving reproductive health care. Before sharing data with an out-of-state entity, the law also requires a written declaration that the information will not be used for a prohibited purpose.

But it is not just Democratic-led states that have enacted ALPR regulation. The Republican-controlled Kentucky Legislature enacted a law (KY HB 58) to limit disclosure of ALPR data to law enforcement for public safety or criminal investigations; pursuant to a subpoena; to insurers for insurance fraud, claims, and vehicle recovery; and to financial institutions for purposes such as repossession, lien enforcement, and verification of loan information.

ALPR Data Retention Policies

The length of time ALPR data is retained has also emerged as a key issue. While ALPRs can identify vehicles connected to an investigation in real time, retaining records of vehicles that are not associated with suspected criminal activity can create a searchable history of individuals’ movements over time. Privacy advocates have therefore pushed for limits requiring data to be deleted after a specified period unless it is needed for a legitimate law enforcement purpose. Connecticut enacted a new law (CT SB 397) to regulate ALPRs that limits the retention of data to 21 days.

The Future of ALPR Regulation

Many state officials are signaling a review of ALPR regulations for next session. But the debate over ALPRs is unlikely to remain confined to state legislatures. Local governments across the country are increasingly reconsidering how the technology is deployed, with many canceling ALPR contracts. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Congress have introduced proposals to impose federal restrictions on access to ALPR data. As the technology continues to proliferate, policymakers at every level of government are likely to face growing pressure to establish clearer rules governing its use.

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