TO: Vermilion City Council
FROM: Sean McCann, ACLU of Ohio, Policy Strategist
DATE: October 5, 2026
RE: City policy on automatic license plate readers (ALPRs)
This memo is intended to convey the ACLU of Ohio’s recommendations for municipal legislation restricting the use of automatic license plate readers (ALPRs).
Background: An automatic license plate reader (ALPR) is a mobile or fixed-location camera used to take photographs of license plates, digitize them, and then store, process, and search captured data in real time or over the course of months or even years. ALPRs are designed to track members of the public within a defined space or location: where they travel, the political meetings and rallies they attend; where they worship; where they receive physical and mental health care; if they are gun owners; and so much more about their daily private lives.
It is precisely for these reasons that the ACLU of Ohio believes ALPRs must be banned altogether, particularly given the massive scale on which they are utilized in today’s world. While ALPRs have been used in Ohio for at least 20 years, their use has proliferated to the extent that they constitute a mass surveillance network tracking Ohioans’ every move, all without a warrant.
Recommendations:
Accordingly, our organization’s best recommendation for Council is to ban ALPRs entirely. Councilmember Werley’s proposed ordinance 2026-46 offers a strong path forward. We commend the city for not contracting with Flock Safety or any other ALPR vendor thus far.
We understand the ordinance is undergoing additional review and possible changes. During that process, we urge Council to ensure any provisions relating to use of other municipalities’ ALPR systems be restricted to exigent circumstances and after the City has obtained a warrant.
Thank you again for this opportunity, and we stand ready to assist Council on this vital issue in any way we can.
