A small-town Georgia police chief abruptly resigned Wednesday, hours before his arrest on charges connected with the illegal use of automated license plate recognition cameras to stalk and harass multiple individuals. Michael Steffman, 49, had served as the chief of police since April in Braselton, about 45 miles from Atlanta.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) revealed in a press release that Steffman had been charged with stalking, harassing communications, improper use of automated license plate recognition systems and violating his oath as a public officer.
How are license plate recognition cameras typically used?
License plate readers are usually positioned on street poles, lights and overpasses. They provide data that the police can use to track criminal suspects or stolen vehicles.
Courts have consistently ruled that police officers can trace a vehicle’s license plate number without reasonable suspicion or cause and that this does not violate the Fourth Amendment because the information is considered public, according to legal experts…