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New North Carolina License Plate Reader program raising privacy concerns

North Carolina will soon begin piloting a new automatic license plate reader program, but critics say it could come at a cost to you.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina's new Automatic License Plate Reader program could help make the streets safer, but could it also put your privacy at risk?

Let's connect the dots.

Automatic License Plate Readers, or ALPRs, help find missing people, stolen cars, or even wanted felons.

Many local law enforcement agencies, including the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, already use them.

A new law now allows the cameras to be on state-controlled roads for a limited time, as part of a pilot program through the summer of 2025, but critics say these devices could cause more harm than good.

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While helpful at catching criminals, critics like the American Civil Liberties Union and opposing lawmakers argue few of the license plates that are read are involved in a crime.

Instead, they say, the tech exposes the public to the possibility of mass surveillance and puts consumer data at risk.

But those in favor say the tech will help put dangerous criminals behind bars. There are also some protections in place. Misusing the data would be illegal and those involved could face charges.

And that's connecting the dots.

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Contact Kayland Hagwood at khagwood@wcnc.com and follow her on FacebookX and Instagram.

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