California drivers, get ready: the Golden State is rapidly expanding its use of AI-powered license plate readers. These systems capture and analyze millions of images, tracking where vehicles travel, when they move, and other identifying features such as make, color, visible damage, and so on. It’s a controversial move, and not just because of the obvious privacy concerns. There’s also increasing evidence that the federal agencies are using the data for immigration enforcement. More than 200 police departments, sheriff’s offices, and other agencies have access to data from these automated license plate readers (ALPRs).
The move has triggered fierce debates in city halls from Oakland to Santa Cruz. And while some municipalities in other states have fought back against these ALPRs and canceled contracts after learning that the data was being sent to the feds, most California cities have actually opted to renew or expand their programs.
For example, the Oakland City Council voted 7-1 to approve a $2.25 million, two-year contract broaden the city’s use of ALPRs in mid-December 2025. Supporters argue the cameras are just another investigative tool, but these aren’t your average traffic light cameras. Critics point out that any investigative benefits are very much outweighed by the broader issue of collecting massive amounts of data on people and providing it to the federal government.
California’s ALPRs aren’t just a privacy issue
The issue isn’t just about whether California cities should use license plate readers; there’s also the question of whether they can even legally do so. State law requires agencies to adopt detailed policies governing access, retention, and auditing of ALPR data. That would also prohibit the sharing of information with federal agencies or out-of-state law enforcement for immigration enforcement. And yet, multiple lawsuits filed against Oakland and San José allege that police departments have done exactly that…