The misuse of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) has led to alarming incidents of wrongful detentions, particularly affecting marginalized communities, especially people of color. In August 2020, Brittney Gilliam and her family endured a terrifying encounter with law enforcement in Aurora, Colorado, when they were pulled over while driving to a nail salon. Under gunpoint, Gilliam, her daughter, sister, and nieces were forcibly removed from their vehicle, handcuffed, and ordered to lie face down on the pavement—all because an ALPR system incorrectly flagged their vehicle as stolen. The officers mistakenly matched Gilliam’s SUV to a motorcycle with different license plates. This incident highlights the critical flaws in relying on technology for public safety while neglecting basic verification processes.
Denise Green experienced a similar fate a decade earlier in San Francisco, where she was pulled over by police after an ALPR reported her car as stolen due to a misreading of her license plate number. Both cases reveal a disturbing pattern in which officers exhibit reckless behavior by taking immediate, aggressive action based on potentially faulty data without conducting proper checks. The consequences of these ALPR errors are severe as they expose individuals to undue trauma and fear from law enforcement, exacerbating the already tense relationship between police and communities of color. The incidents raise concerns about the broader implications of how ALPR technology can skew police interactions toward increased suspicion and violence.
Such wrongful detentions are not isolated events but rather indicative of recurring failures in the ALPR system. The technology is susceptible to misinterpretation, as evidenced by multiple cases across states, including inaccuracies where officers misread letters and numbers on license plates. For instance, a case in Atherton, California, involved police stopping Jason Burkleo at gunpoint, only later realizing the ALPR mistake resulted from a misinterpretation of a letter. Moreover, negligence in maintaining updated ALPR databases has exacerbated the situation, as seen in the Thanksgiving incident involving Brian Hofer, where police failed to remove a recovered vehicle from the hot list, leading to wrongful detention.
Equally concerning is the overreliance on ALPR technology by police departments, enabling situations in which officers wrongly connect individuals to crimes based solely on automated data. In one instance, Detroit police secured information about all Dodge Chargers in the vicinity of a shooting, involvingIsoke Robinson, who was incorrectly detained despite evidence showing her vehicle did not match the conditions of the crime. The failure to conduct essential checks like examining the vehicle for distinguishing traits further illustrates the dangers of unregulated reliance on technology in policing, allowing for unjust actions against innocent individuals.
The ramifications of these wrongful stops extend beyond the immediate trauma experienced by victims; they carry significant social implications that reinforce perceptions of fear and distrust towards law enforcement agencies. Numerous victims have sought legal recourse, resulting in substantial settlements against police departments for their misuse of ALPR technology. Notably, the city of Aurora agreed to a $1.9 million settlement with Brittney Gilliam, while San Francisco and others have also compensated individuals subjected to similar wrongful detentions. These financial costs pale in comparison to the broader social costs, which include the erosion of community trust in law enforcement and an environment that fosters fear and surveillance rather than safety and security.
Recognizing the broader safety, privacy, and discrimination issues surrounding ALPR technology, organizations such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) have taken an active stance since 2012 in advocating against its misuse. Through public records requests, litigation, and legislative efforts, the EFF aims to highlight the dangers posed by ALPR systems and push for reforms ensuring the protection of civil liberties. Highlighting the need for accountability, transparency, and community engagement in law enforcement practices is critical to address and mitigate the harmful impacts stemming from the pervasive use of ALPRs, allowing these systems to be reviewed with a more skeptical lens going forward.
