North Carolina expands license plate reader network amid privacy concerns

North Carolina has expanded its automated license plate reader (ALPR) network to more than 3,600 devices installed on public roads, neighborhood entrances, and state highways, according to reports from foxy99.com, v1019.com, and wkml.com. The majority of these cameras, about 80% to 85%, are supplied by Flock Safety, as noted by the Daily Tar Heel.

The state recently made permanent a pilot program allowing the State Bureau of Investigation and local police to deploy AI-powered license plate readers on any state-maintained road or highway right-of-way, which comprise 78% of the state's roadways. During the pilot, 12 police departments, 19 sheriffs' offices, and the State Highway Patrol utilized the systems.

Law enforcement agencies may retain data collected by the readers for up to 90 days. The systems are operated exclusively by law enforcement and are used for specific purposes, including criminal investigations, recovering stolen vehicles, and locating missing persons. Each agency develops its own policy before activating the system, as there are no uniform statewide rules governing implementation or enforcement.

Flock Safety's cameras capture detailed information such as a vehicle's make, model, color, license plate number, and smaller details like bike racks or bumper stickers. Agencies have the option to share collected data with other departments. Flock Safety reported that its cameras contributed to one million police investigations nationwide and helped find about 10,000 missing persons in 2025.

Privacy concerns have been raised about the system, especially regarding the aggregation of data from multiple readers into a single database. Tom Bowman, policy counsel at the Center for Democracy & Technology, explained that this allows police to track a person's movements over time. Only the Asheville and Raleigh police departments have policies addressing the use of readers at political rallies, religious gatherings, or protests, according to records obtained by WRAL.

The expansion of the ALPR network continues amid ongoing privacy debates and court challenges, highlighting the balance between law enforcement utility and civil liberties.