The Allen County Sheriff’s Department announced it will no longer subscribe to get information from automated license plate reader cameras set up major highways throughout the county. While Maness recognizes arguments about civil liberties, his primary reason for ending the subscription was the cost involved. Mounted along major highways entering and leaving the county, the small automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras blend into utility poles and roadside infrastructure. Many are operated by Flock Safety, an Atlanta-based company that provides automated license plate reader systems to law enforcement agencies nationwide. The cameras photograph license plates and vehicle characteristics, creating a searchable database investigators can use to locate vehicles connected to criminal investigations, missing persons cases and public safety alerts. For some, the cameras represent another valuable investigative tool. For others, they raise questions about privacy, government surveillance and who ultimately controls the vast amounts of data they collect.
Read more: The Iola Register
