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License plate cameras scan 20 billion vehicles a month, and cities are pulling the plug

Ellsworth Toohey
Jul 06, 2026
∙ Paid

Logan Bush / Shutterstock.com

The automated license plate reader has become one of the densest surveillance layers in the United States. TechSpot reports that these AI camera networks now log around 20 billion license plate scans every month, from more than 100,000 readers nationwide, the vast majority sold by Flock Safety.

A scan can capture a vehicle’s …

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