Police License Plate Reader Deployments Raise Privacy Concerns Across US
Police departments in Puerto Rico and New Mexico have deployed automatic license plate readers to enhance crime investigation and prevention. Constitutional rights advocates and community members have expressed concerns about the scope of surveillance, access controls, and governance of these systems.
What happened
At least 15 municipalities in Puerto Rico have deployed automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) systems, including two using Flock Safety's technology, which capture approximately 900 to 1,000 photos per minute. Roswell Police Department in New Mexico installed 23 Axon license plate readers at several intersections in August 2026 to enhance crime prevention and investigations.
The Roswell department stated that license plate data is stored for 30 days before being deleted and that officers accessing the system are tracked. The department said it is still developing a plan to audit the system and the data it collects.
Reported impact
Constitutional rights advocates have raised concerns about the scope and controls of ALPR systems spanning Puerto Rico's streets. Community members in Roswell have raised privacy concerns about the technology, though law enforcement officials have emphasized commitment to public safety and accountability.
Index analysis
The deployment of ALPR systems raises questions about surveillance scope, data retention, and access controls. The lack of finalized audit plans suggests governance gaps in newly deployed systems.
Governance controls
Roswell Police stated that officers accessing license plate data are tracked when they use the system and that wrongdoing would be addressed internally and externally. Data retention policies limit storage to 30 days before deletion.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.