Privacy advocates are alarmed at the spread of license plate reading technology being adopted by private citizens trying to protect their neighborhoods by reading and monitoring every car that drives through. It has become a growth business, even for Alabama Power:
CBS42 in Birmingham reported in September of last year:
Birmingham, Ala., (WIAT) — The Birmingham City Council approved a contract to install and maintain 10 Flock Safety License Plate Recognition cameras within the city.
According to the agreement with Alabama Power, the power company will install and maintain 10 Flock Safety License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras and solar panels to aid law enforcement and enhance public safety in certain strategic areas.
The city entered into an initial pilot program on Oct. 2, 2018, for a term of five years, and Tuesday’s vote amended that by adding 10 additional cameras.
Alabama Power will maintain and install the cameras at an estimated monthly cost of $2,291.67.
The Alabama Legislature considered but rejected one bill governing the cameras earlier this year. It was an attempt to limit the use of the camera data, requiring it to be destroyed after a certain time period. It died in the 2021 regular session.
The Washington Post reports today about controversy in a Colorado neighborhood because of the cameras..
The LPR cameras are controversial, at least in the eyes of people and organizations concerned about privacy issues, like The Electronic Frontier Foundation.
At least 16 states have adopted similar laws, reports the National Conference of State Legislatures.
There are several ways to foil the cameras, including an inexpensive tag cover sold via Amazon.
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