Key facts
- Vermont police conducted over 100 license plate searches since 2023 using out-of-state data.
- A loophole in Vermont law allows access to national license plate tracking networks.
- Law enforcement claims the practice is used for serious criminal investigations.
- Privacy advocates argue this constitutes pervasive tracking on public roads.
- Flock Safety cameras are a primary source of this data, accessed via regional hubs like NESPIN.
Vermont police departments have found a way around state laws restricting domestic license plate surveillance by accessing data from out-of-state camera networks, according to a VTDigger analysis. Since 2023, these departments have conducted over 100 searches, leveraging a loophole in a decade-old law that did not anticipate the existence of national camera systems.
Law enforcement officials argue that tracking license plates through these systems is a crucial tool for investigating serious crimes and that their use of out-of-state data complies with Vermont statutes. Berlin Police Chief James Pontbriand stated that such information can open doors to solving serious incidents. However, privacy advocates like Falko Schilling of the ACLU express serious concerns, questioning the expectation of being tracked on public roadways.
Automatic license plate reader cameras, such as those made by Flock Safety, capture vehicle plate information and store it in databases. While Vermont law enforcement is largely excluded from direct access to cameras within the state, they utilize regional intelligence hubs like the New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN) to obtain this data for suspects traveling out of state. Dave Maass of the Electronic Frontier Foundation noted that NESPIN's operations occur outside public view and regulatory oversight.
The use of license plate tracking technology has faced scrutiny nationwide, with instances of misidentification leading to false arrests and its use for tracking individuals seeking abortions, romantic interests, or targets of immigration enforcement. At least 16 states have implemented regulations for such cameras and their data. Manchester, Vermont, a community with Flock cameras, has seen its data accessed by out-of-state agencies, including NESPIN, totaling millions of nationwide searches.