License plate readers: Sheriff talks cost of constant surveillance
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 [...]