US lawmakers are planning to introduce an amendment that could drastically alter the landscape of automated license plate reader (**ALPR**) technology across the United States. The amendment, slated for discussion at a House committee markup hearing, aims to prohibit any recipient of federal highway funding from utilizing ALPRs for purposes beyond toll collection. Sponsored by Representative Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican, and Representative Jesús “Chuy” García, an Illinois Democrat, the amendment reflects growing concerns about the misuse of ALPR data and its implications for privacy. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is scheduled to review the underlying bill, a substantial $580 billion reauthorization of federal surface transportation programs, at 10 am ET on Thursday. ### Amendment Details The proposed amendment is concise but impactful: “A recipient of assistance under Title 23, United States Code, may not use automated license plate readers for any purpose other than tolling.” Title 23 encompasses a significant portion of public roads in the US. This restriction would force states, counties, and municipalities receiving federal highway funds to either remove ALPR cameras or confine their usage solely to tolling applications. ### Bipartisan Concerns Despite their differing political ideologies, Representatives Perry and García share concerns regarding the increasing surveillance capabilities enabled by ALPR networks. These networks have become increasingly prevalent across American road infrastructure. ALPR cameras capture images of license plates, recording times and locations, and storing the data in searchable databases accessible across various agencies. ### Controversies and Misuse In Illinois, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias revealed that an audit uncovered that **Flock Group**, a major ALPR network operator, granted US Customs and Border Protection access to Illinois ALPR data, violating state law. Giannoulias subsequently ordered the company to cease this access. Flock initially paused federal pilots in response, with CEO Garrett Langley admitting that previous statements regarding these arrangements were inaccurate. **Flock** defends its technology by pointing to instances where ALPRs have aided law enforcement in apprehending suspects, such as in Manor, Texas. However, cities like Austin have curtailed their use of Flock cameras due to privacy concerns. ### Privacy Advocacy Privacy advocates argue that the aggregation of license plate data creates a de facto warrantless tracking system. Organizations like the Brennan Center for Justice have highlighted the integration of ALPR data into police data-fusion systems. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (**EFF**) has documented instances of police misuse, including targeting mosques and disproportionately deploying ALPR technology in low-income areas. Court records obtained by the EFF revealed that a Texas sheriff's deputy used Flock's network to track a woman who had an abortion. Hajar Hammado, senior policy adviser at Demand Progress, believes the Perry-García amendment is necessary to curb the rise of "mass surveillance dystopia." ### Legal Challenges The Institute for Justice has filed a class-action lawsuit against the city of San Jose, California, alleging that its ALPR camera network violates residents' Fourth Amendment rights.