Dystopia

Tempe, Arizona, is weighing an ordinance that would bar the city from owning or using automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems for law enforcement, a measure the ACLU of Arizona says would be the first municipal-level ban of its kind in the U.S. The proposal, championed by Councilmember Bobby Nichols, follows widespread backlash against ALPR vendor Flock Safety amid concerns the technology enables mass surveillance in violation of Fourth Amendment protections. Tempe and other Valley cities have already canceled Flock contracts after reports of misuse at other agencies. The draft would still allow ALPR data obtained through a warrant and permit non-police uses like parking enforcement.

At Thursday's first council hearing, 26 residents spoke in support, while Tempe's police union and Police Chief Kenneth McCoy opposed the ban, arguing the department found no misuse and had added safeguards before cameras were shut off. Mayor Corey Woods and two other councilmembers raised concerns about effects on multi-jurisdictional task forces. A vote is scheduled for Oct. 15, with Nichols needing to win over additional council votes.