More than 30 cities across the United States are advancing legislative measures to restrict or prohibit automated license plate reader technology, marking a significant grassroots shift in how local governments are approaching surveillance expansion. The coordinated wave of municipal action—spanning at least 12 states—signals growing concern among city councils about privacy implications and the need for regulatory guardrails on ALPR systems.
Cities moving forward with prohibition measures include Greenville, North Carolina, which previously advanced an ALPR prohibition measure, along with Fort Wayne, Indiana; Lansing, Michigan; Jackson, Mississippi; Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Kansas City, Missouri; Toledo, Ohio; Cleveland, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; and municipal councils in Alaska, Bryan Texas, Connecticut, Louisiana, Alabama, North Dakota, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, and the Quad Cities region spanning Iowa and Illinois.
The legislative pattern is remarkably consistent: city councils are holding first reading votes on measures that would prohibit or severely restrict ALPR deployment within municipal limits. According to WPTA | 21Alive, Fort Wayne's council weighed the prohibition during a first reading. WILX reported that Lansing advanced the measure through a similar process. WLBT covered Jackson's first reading vote, while KFVS12 reported on Cape Girardeau's council action. KCTV documented Kansas City's consideration of the ban.
In Ohio, multiple jurisdictions are taking action. WTVG reported Toledo's first reading vote, while Cleveland 19 News covered Cleveland's council advancing the measure. FOX19 reported that Cincinnati's city council moved forward with a first reading on ALPR prohibition.
Kentucky and Wisconsin have also seen municipal movement. Wave3.com reported Louisville's first reading vote on the prohibition measure, while WEAU documented Wisconsin municipal councils, including Eau Claire, advancing similar measures. KOLO | 8 News Now reported that Reno, Nevada's council weighed the prohibition during a first reading vote.
In Maine, momentum has been building specifically against Flock Safety ALPR cameras. According to newscentermaine.com, multiple Maine municipalities including Bar Harbor-area communities are holding council votes on ALPR prohibition, with reporting from newscentermaine.com and Maine Morning Star examining community concerns about surveillance technology and privacy implications.
The Cincinnati Enquirer published an opinion piece calling for a halt to license plate surveillance deployment until comprehensive regulatory rules and oversight mechanisms are established to protect privacy rights and prevent potential misuse of ALPR technology by law enforcement.
WAFB reported on Louisiana's municipal action, WBRC 6 News covered an Alabama city council vote, Valley News Live documented a North Dakota municipality's first reading, Hawaii News Now reported on a Hawaii municipal council measure, KWQC covered Quad Cities area action, and KXII reported on a Texas-Oklahoma border region municipality advancing the prohibition during first reading votes.
The pattern suggests municipal leaders are responding to constituent concerns about surveillance scope and data privacy before ALPR systems become more entrenched in their communities. Unlike earlier federal-level ALPR debate that stalled, these local measures represent cities exercising direct regulatory authority over law enforcement surveillance tools deployed within their jurisdictions.