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Florida Police use cutting edge technology to monitor the public every day. One of the most common high tech systems available all around the State are Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs). Also known simply as License Plate Readers (LPRs), are high-speed camera systems that automatically scan and record vehicle license plates. Law enforcement agencies across Florida now use them on patrol cars, streetlights, and roadways to track vehicle movements and help identify potential suspects. Similar to facial recognition technology, computers analyze the date and alert the operator of expired registrations, lack of insurance, outstanding warrants, and any number of other governmental alerts that are connected to your vehicles license plate information.
While these systems can assist with criminal investigations, their widespread use has also raised major privacy and constitutional concerns.
How License Plate Readers Work
- Capture – Cameras automatically photograph every license plate that passes within view. These may be mounted on patrol vehicles, traffic lights, or roadside poles.
- Data Conversion – Software converts the image into a readable number and letter sequence.
- Database Comparison – The system checks that plate number against “hot lists” — databases that include stolen vehicles, wanted suspects, or cars tied to open investigations.
- Alert – When a match is found, the system sends an alert to officers in the area.
Data Logging – Even if a vehicle isn’t on a hot list, the system still stores data — including the date, time, GPS coordinates, and image of the vehicle. Over time, this can create a detailed record of a person’s driving history.
How Law Enforcement Uses ALPRs in Florida
Based on the basic concept that information exposed to the public is not protected, and randomly viewing and reading your license plate with no probable cause of wrongdoing is legally acceptable, Florida police have been spreading this technology and using it all over the State. Florida law enforcement agencies use LPR technology to:
- Locate stolen cars or wanted subjects
- identify vehicles with expired registration or insurance
- locate vehicles subject to missing person reports and amber alerts
- develop leads and criminal cases
- track movement patterns particularly regarding travel to or from a crime scene
When an alert is triggered, officers may use it as a basis for a traffic stop. In practice, this means an officer might stop a car minutes after an ALPR system reports a “hit” on a stolen-vehicle database or a person with an active warrant.
However, the stop still must comply with constitutional standards: there must be a legitimate basis to believe a crime or violation occurred. If the “hit” is outdated or inaccurate — which sometimes happens — the stop may be challenged in court as unlawful.
Why License Plate Readers Are Controversial
Although ALPRs can be valuable investigative tools, they’ve become controversial in Florida for several reasons:
1. Mass Data Collection
Every vehicle passing an ALPR camera is scanned — not just those suspected of a crime. This creates massive databases containing millions of records about where and when people travel, even if they’ve done nothing wrong.
2. Data Retention and Sharing
Under Florida Statutes §§ 316.0777–316.0778, the Florida Department of State and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) regulate how long this data can be kept. In some areas, data may be retained for years and shared among dozens of agencies, raising privacy and oversight concerns. Therefore use of these devices requires the public trust their data wont be misused over a long period of time.
3. Potential for Misuse
Because the data can show a vehicle’s movements over time, critics argue that ALPR systems could be used for surveillance unrelated to criminal investigations. Civil-liberties advocates have warned that long-term data storage could violate the privacy rights guaranteed by the Florida Constitution (Article I, Section 23).
4. Accuracy and False Alerts
Like any automated system, ALPRs can make errors — misreading a plate or flagging an incorrect match. False alerts have led to mistaken traffic stops, detentions, and even arrests. Florida does not have a combined database to determine the frequency of unjustified detentions, arrests, or investigations.
5. Limited Oversight
While the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) must approve ALPRs on state highways, local agencies often deploy their own systems with limited public transparency about data usage or storage.
A Recent Florida Example
In Raul Mas Canosa v. City of Coral Gables (3rd DCA, 2023), a South Florida resident challenged the city’s use of an extensive ALPR network that captured millions of vehicle movements, arguing it amounted to unconstitutional tracking. The case highlighted just how much data these systems collect — and how long it can be stored and shared with other agencies. The case did not result result in an opinion but was reported here.
Key Takeaway
Florida’s use of license plate readers shows how technology can blur the line between effective policing and mass surveillance. For law enforcement, ALPRs offer quick investigative leads. For citizens and defense attorneys, they raise serious questions about privacy, data use, and the legality of traffic stops that originate from automated “hits.”
If you were stopped or arrested after a license plate reader alert, you may have grounds to challenge the stop or the way your information was collected. A skilled criminal defense attorney can review whether the ALPR data was lawfully obtained and used in your case.
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Why Retaining an Attorney Matters
Criminal Defense Lawyer Matt Landsman at Landsman Law helps people accused of crimes in Gainesville, Alachua County, Bradford County, Levy County, Gilchrist County, and surrounding areas of north Florida. If you need help for yourself or a loved one, contact Criminal Defense Attorney Matt Landsman for a free consultation today. For help with any Criminal Matter from Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer Matt Landsman – CALL NOW
If you’re accused of any criminal matter, retaining an attorney is critical to protecting your rights. These cases will involve constitutional questions and concern allegations of misconduct or are sensitive in nature, requiring a skill, preparation and experience. For expert legal help, contact Gainesville Defense Lawyer Matt Landsman to protect your rights today.