A Milwaukee police officer resigned after investigators discovered he used automated license plate reader technology to track a woman he was dating nearly 180 times in just two months. What started as one disturbing misconduct case is now feeding a much larger debate over how surveillance technology aimed at vehicles is being quietly abused across the country.
And for drivers, this story hits a nerve fast.
License plate reader systems were sold to the public as tools to catch stolen cars, locate dangerous suspects, and help law enforcement solve serious crimes. Instead, multiple documented cases now show officers using those same systems to monitor ex-girlfriends, stalk romantic partners, and track private citizens with alarming frequency…