Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs), once a niche surveillance tool, are now a widespread component of urban infrastructure, driven by private vendors and amplified by artificial intelligence. These systems capture vast amounts of location data, creating searchable databases that integrate with law enforcement repositories. While proponents tout ALPRs as crime-fighting tools, research on their effectiveness in reducing violent crime is sparse, though they may aid in solving certain offenses like car theft. The expansion of ALPRs raises significant civil liberties concerns, particularly regarding data privacy, potential for misuse in targeting marginalized communities, and the lack of robust federal regulations comparable to the EU’s GDPR. The opaque data-sharing practices of vendors like Flock Safety, coupled with limited local oversight, exacerbate these risks, prompting calls for stronger regulation and community consent.