Michigan Police ALPR Surveillance in Michigan: What You Need to Know
Across the State of Michigan, Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology is being rapidly deployed by police departments. These high-tech cameras capture license plate data, tracking vehicles in real-time without the driver’s knowledge or consent. Michigan police are tracking cars using a growing network of ALPRs mounted on patrol vehicles, at major intersections, and along highways such as I-94 and I-75.
This system allows law enforcement to instantly identify vehicles of interest. But with no Michigan surveillance laws regulating the use of ALPRs, many question whether this level of vehicle tracking is constitutional.
Is ALPR Tracking Legal in Michigan?
Michigan courts have ruled that ALPR surveillance is legal, even though it enables police to track your vehicle without a warrant. In People v. Jones, the Michigan Court of Appeals determined that drivers have no reasonable expectation of privacy in their license plates, which are legally required to be in plain view. This means law enforcement can use license plate tracking data however they see fit.
But what does this mean for everyday Michigan drivers?
With access to ALPR data, police departments can check whether a vehicle’s registration and no-fault insurance are valid. Officers can then use this information to initiate traffic stops, which may lead to vehicle searches, arrests, and even criminal charges if anything illegal is discovered inside the car.
How Michigan Police Use ALPR to Track Vehicles
Michigan law enforcement agencies utilize ALPR cameras in several ways:
Scanning parked and moving vehicles in public areas
Identifying stolen cars or wanted vehicles
Tracking vehicles by plate number, make, model, or color
Conducting real-time searches for vehicles without plates
Sharing ALPR data with local, state, and federal agencies
Police can also retroactively search the ALPR database to see if a specific license plate has been scanned before. Nationwide, it’s estimated that law enforcement agencies have access to over 1.5 billion ALPR detections.
Where Are ALPR Cameras Used in Michigan?
With no state-wide regulations governing ALPR in Michigan, police departments decide how and where to use this technology.
The Michigan State Police have installed ALPRs along I-94 and I-75, scanning all passing vehicles.
The City of Taylor has 50 ALPR cameras positioned across the city, plus 27 ALPRs installed on police vehicles, capturing over 9 million license plate scans per month.
Kentwood Police are deploying ALPRs on all patrol vehicles, scanning passing cars and logging details such as make, model, color, and owner registration data from the Secretary of State.
While some agencies claim to have data retention policies (such as the Michigan State Police, which reportedly stores ALPR data for one year), many local departments have no clear guidelines on how long they keep this license plate tracking information.
Errors in ALPR Technology Can Lead to Wrongful Arrests
ALPR systems are not foolproof, and misreadings have resulted in serious legal consequences for innocent people.
Detroit police mistakenly handcuffed Isoke Robinson and placed her 2-year-old autistic child in a patrol car after an ALPR error. Her vehicle was impounded for over three weeks, despite her not being charged with a crime.
Colorado police pulled over Brittney Gilliam at gunpoint, forcing her, her sister, and nieces to lie face-down on the pavement—only to later realize the ALPR had made an error.
California police detained Denise Green at gunpoint due to a false ALPR match, ordering her to kneel on the ground and placing her in handcuffs before realizing their mistake.
New Mexico police arrested Jaclynn Gonzales and detained her 12-year-old sister after an ALPR misread a "2" as a "7" on her license plate.
These cases highlight the dangers of ALPR surveillance, especially when Michigan police use ALPR to justify stops and searches. A simple plate misreading could lead to wrongful detentions, vehicle seizures, or worse.
What Can You Do If You Are Affected by ALPR Misuse?
If you have been wrongly charged, detained, or arrested due to ALPR tracking in Michigan, you have legal options. The lack of Michigan surveillance laws regulating this technology means police tracking cars without a warrant is largely unchecked—but that doesn’t mean wrongful arrests should go unchallenged.
Contact Michigan Appeals Attorney Mark Linton at (517) 993-9555 for a free consultation. Protect your rights and challenge the misuse of ALPR in Michigan before it impacts more drivers.
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