Privacy advocates urge council to cut funding for automated license plate readers

Grant funding to provide license plate reader in Grimes County

Drivers in Grimes County may notice new equipment roadside soon.The Grimes County Sheriff's Office announced it has secured grant funding for a license plate reader.The department says the reader will help "deter crime, enhance public safety, and better protect our communities."Officials did not provide a date for when the system will be put into use.

Privacy advocates urge council to cut funding for automated license plate readers

A smart streetlight in La Jolla. (File photo courtesy of city of San Diego) Community advocates are asking the San Diego City Council to pull funding for license plate readers days before the city’s 2026 fiscal year budget is due to be finalized. Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) capture images of vehicles and their plates. This information is then sent to law enforcement databases to scan for vehicles of interest. The readers are meant to…