License Plate Reader Searches Should Require a Warrant
Summary
Andy Wheeler argues that license plate reader (ALPR) data should require a warrant for historical searches, drawing on Carpenter v US and related rulings to frame privacy expectations. He discusses data retention practices, abuses, and the potential for ubiquitous surveillance in public spaces, advocating statutory warrant standards and independent audits. The piece weighs public safety benefits of ALPR against civil-liberties protections and calls for clear regulation.