Take a look at the above. Is this an invasion of privacy?
If your gut answer is “yes”, then whose privacy is being invaded?
But beware – before you try to find out the registered owner of 801DCF, you should probably be aware that (in the extremely unlikely event that you are able to accomplish this) you would be violating a Federal law known as the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA). How can I definitively say this? Because there is an explicit set of “permissible purposes” defined within the DPPA for connection of a license plate to its registered owner.
The issue of LPR and privacy is a heated national debate. But, its really quite simple. If you can’t tie a plate to a person, then there is no privacy issue. Notice the information that is included in the above license plate reader data record. There is no personal information included in this. There is no information on the owner, their address, their social security number, etc. The LPR system doesn’t even know what state issued the license plate…and there are duplicate license plates issued across the states. In short, this is all information that could be easily witnessed in public by a police officer or even a casual bystander.
Despite some viewpoints to the contrary (samples comments from a recent media story below), these are the FACTS.
- “what gives them the right to run a computer check on my personal information”,
- “do we want every cop with one of these to know every detail of our lives with the push of a button including where you live, where you work, the name of each and every one of your family members”,
- “they will have your address, telephone numbers, email addresses, drivers’ licenses associated with the plate number, credit card used to pay for your registration, and the scary one your concealed weapons permit”.
These types of comments are based on a completely misguided understanding that there is a legitimate link between LPR and privacy. LPR data is anonymous information. LPR doesn’t run a check against personal information, LPR doesn’t tell cops where you live and the names of your family members, and LPR doesn’t reveal your credit card or social security number!
For more information, and to learn the facts, visit lprfacts.com.
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