Across western Massachusetts, more municipalities are installing automated license plate readers on poles and streetlights to record passing vehicles.
Law enforcement agencies say the AI-enabled cameras can help move investigations along more quickly, while critics warn they make everyday driving searchable, as detailed in an investigation by The Shoestring.
Here’s what to know
The outlet found the technology was in use in at least 13 western Massachusetts municipalities in 2026.
Between January and early June 2026, outside agencies included Holyoke’s cameras in more than 3.5 million searches…