Washington’s License-Plate Cameras: A Privacy Nightmare Wrapped as Public Safety

In Spokane County, Sheriff John Nowels praises automatic license plate reader cameras as a game-changer for law enforcement—reducing auto thefts and saving hundreds of investigative hours. Yet beneath this veneer of public safety lies a troubling reality: these surveillance devices collect far more than just plate numbers. Flock Safety’s cameras not only capture license plates but also catalog vehicle characteristics down to dents, window stickers, and even pets in truck beds. This trove of invasive data is a treasure trove for stalkers and malicious individuals—especially when Washington state law declares nearly all these images as public records subject to open...