Oklahoma ALPR Misuse Sparks Urgent Call for Oversight Reform

UPDATE: An urgent study on the misuse of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) in Oklahoma is underway as lawmakers raise serious concerns about potential violations of citizens’ rights. Rep. Tom Gann (R-Inola) claims law enforcement is abusing ALPR technology, originally intended to enforce the state’s Compulsory Insurance Law, to conduct unauthorized surveillance.

During a discussion with News 4 in August 2023, Gann emphasized that without immediate action, Oklahoma residents could suffer the consequences. “These are serious violations of people’s rights,” he stated. “We have federal agencies using local police passwords to perform immigration surveillance with these flock cameras.”

ALPR cameras have been permitted in Oklahoma since 2018 to ensure that drivers are insured. The Uninsured Vehicle Enforcement Diversion (UVED) program reports a significant decrease in uninsured drivers, claiming these cameras have been instrumental in improving road safety. However, Gann, along with legal experts like Shena Burgess, argues that the cameras are increasingly used for purposes unrelated to insurance checks.

Burgess noted, “The Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office testified in federal court that they use ALPRs for reasons beyond insurance verification.” This misuse has led to alarming incidents, including wrongful stops where innocent drivers, including a woman and her 12-year-old sister, were held at gunpoint due to erroneous license plate readings.

Gann warns that the misuse of ALPR technology constitutes a violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from unreasonable searches. “When tag numbers are misread, we create victims of mass surveillance,” he said, stressing the need for robust internal controls to prevent further abuse.

Burgess added that the implications of these practices could lead to civil lawsuits, ultimately costing taxpayers. “Once challenges start happening, civil lawsuits are going to follow,” she cautioned. “It is going to be our citizens who end up paying for this.”

The meeting intended to address these issues was disrupted when Gann announced he would take the full allotted time, prompting Rep. Tim Turner (R-Kinta) to withdraw his participation. Despite this setback, Gann and Turner remain committed to seeking a solution regarding the misuse of ALPR cameras.

As this situation develops, the implications for law enforcement practices and citizens’ rights in Oklahoma remain critical. Stakeholders are calling for immediate regulatory reforms to safeguard against the misuse of technology that should protect, not endanger, the public.

Stay tuned for further updates as this story evolves. The future of ALPR use in Oklahoma hangs in the balance, and the actions taken now could reshape the landscape of law enforcement and civil liberties in the state.