Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
The increasing deployment of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) by law enforcement agencies has sparked significant debate regarding the balance between public safety and individual privacy rights in the digital age. This research investigates whether the use of LPRs constitutes an invasion of privacy, examining the tension between law enforcement's legitimate need for surveillance tools and citizens' constitutional rights to privacy.
This research examines court decisions and legal articles to understand how LPRs affect privacy rights. By looking at important cases like Carpenter v. United States and reviewing what legal experts have written, we can better understand when and how LPR use might violate privacy rights.
Initial research shows that while LPRs help police catch criminals and find stolen cars, they also raise serious privacy concerns. The main worry is that these devices can track where people go without their knowledge, creating detailed records of their daily movements.
This research will help police departments, lawmakers, and privacy advocates better understand how to use LPR technology while protecting people's privacy rights. The findings could help create better rules for how this technology should be used in the future.
Faculty Mentor
Sarah Gibson
Recommended Citation
Kline, Lorelai; Paul, Madelyn; Scott, Catherine; and Mullinix, Tessa, "Tracking in the Fast Lane: Are License Plate Readers an Invasion of Privacy?" (2025). Student Scholar Symposium. 171.
https://digitalcollections.lipscomb.edu/student_scholars_symposium/2025/Full_schedule/171
Included in
Tracking in the Fast Lane: Are License Plate Readers an Invasion of Privacy?
The increasing deployment of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) by law enforcement agencies has sparked significant debate regarding the balance between public safety and individual privacy rights in the digital age. This research investigates whether the use of LPRs constitutes an invasion of privacy, examining the tension between law enforcement's legitimate need for surveillance tools and citizens' constitutional rights to privacy.
This research examines court decisions and legal articles to understand how LPRs affect privacy rights. By looking at important cases like Carpenter v. United States and reviewing what legal experts have written, we can better understand when and how LPR use might violate privacy rights.
Initial research shows that while LPRs help police catch criminals and find stolen cars, they also raise serious privacy concerns. The main worry is that these devices can track where people go without their knowledge, creating detailed records of their daily movements.
This research will help police departments, lawmakers, and privacy advocates better understand how to use LPR technology while protecting people's privacy rights. The findings could help create better rules for how this technology should be used in the future.