A Bipartisan Amendment Would End Police License Plate Tracking Nationwide
A bipartisan amendment is set to be introduced that would prohibit the use of automated license plate readers (ALPR) for any purpose other than tolling. This amendment, if passed, would effectively end ALPR programs across the United States by conditioning federal highway funding on the ban. The measure is sponsored by Representatives Scott Perry and Jesús García, who represent opposing political ideologies but share concerns over surveillance practices.
- ▪The amendment would strip federal highway funding from any state or local government that uses ALPR for purposes other than tolling.
- ▪ALPR technology has raised privacy concerns due to its potential for misuse and the aggregation of data without warrants.
- ▪The amendment is part of a larger $580 billion federal transportation bill being considered by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
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Dell CameronSecurityMay 20, 2026 5:58 PMA Bipartisan Amendment Would End Police License Plate Tracking NationwideOne line tucked into a federal highway bill would strip funds from cities and states unless they kill their automated plate tracking programs—effectively banning the tech for all but toll collection.Photograph: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyUS lawmakers plan to introduce an amendment Thursday at a House committee markup hearing that would prohibit any recipient of federal highway funding from using automated license plate readers for any purpose other than tolling—a sweeping restriction that, if adopted, would bring an immediate end to state and local ALPR programs across the United States.The…
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