On December 1st, the City of Burlington unveiled legislative priorities in anticipation of the upcoming legislative session in Montpelier. Priority #3 is calling for the State of Vermont to create an exception in a law banning the use of automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology, for the purpose of traffic enforcement. This exception would allow for the installation of cameras and software to collect location data of anyone living in, and traveling through our community.

Outside of Vermont, data collected by ALPR systems is currently being accessed by ICE and law enforcement agencies monitoring people seeking abortions. Most modern ALPR vendors that sell to police offer products that are connected to a nation-wide database, which is searchable by an ever-growing multitude of law enforcement agencies, by default.

Unfortunately, we can't trust the state government to effectively regulate this technology. Illinois State law prohibits the use of ALPR data for immigration enforcement, yet 404 Media reports that the federal government has gained access to Illinois data anyway. Despite the best intentions of elected officials we may like, at the end of the day the access to data collected by local surveillance will ultimately be decided by a judge, and subject to appeal until the judges in question are on the Supreme Court.

No one can guarantee our privacy if we allow our community leaders to adopt these systems. Making an exception for Burlington sets a dangerous precedent which will eventually lead to the proliferation of invasive surveillance technology that will cause harm to our most vulnerable communities who are already over-policed. This is why we call on the City of Burlington to abandon the pursuit of ALPR tech. No more surveillance. Enough is enough.