Urgent: Ban Mass Surveillance via License Plate Readers

As your constituent, I urge you to support the Perry–García Amendment to the federal highway funding bill to prohibit the use of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs). ALPR technology enables the mass collection and long-term storage of sensitive location data about millions of Americans, regardless of whether they are suspected of any wrongdoing. This form of surveillance poses a serious threat to privacy and civil liberties, allowing the government and private entities to track individuals’ movements, associations, and daily activities without a warrant or meaningful oversight. Data collected by ALPR systems is often retained for extended periods and can be shared widely among agencies or even accessed by private parties. This creates significant risks of misuse, abuse, and unauthorized access, including the potential targeting of individuals based on their travel patterns to places such as medical facilities, religious institutions, or political events. Importantly, concerns about ALPR surveillance are bipartisan. Lawmakers across the political spectrum recognize the need to place reasonable limits on technologies that enable mass tracking of Americans. Supporting this amendment represents a common-sense step toward protecting fundamental freedoms while maintaining public safety. The Perry–García Amendment ensures that federal funds are not used to support surveillance systems that lack adequate safeguards and accountability. It affirms the principle that security measures should not come at the expense of Americans’ constitutional rights. I respectfully ask you to stand with your constituents and support this amendment. Protecting privacy, limiting government overreach, and upholding civil liberties are values that transcend party lines and deserve your leadership. Thank you for your time and consideration.