Fifteen years ago now in Dec 2010 I made a post on my now defunct blog about ALPR and I updated it for a few years. My experiences with LE along side my technical skillset had me 'finding' things. I wont post the entire blog entry text since it is too long for this format but I did include some relevant entries to the point of how long this has really been occurring. Links are very old so YMMV.

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Dec 1 2010 Automated License Plate Readers - ALPR So tonight someone we will call the "suspect" robbed a liquor store with a shotgun and the Delaware State Police were in action with ALPR technology. It was stated by a witness that the "suspect" was seen getting into a late 90's model civic or small hatchback so thus the ALPR call. At the same time troopers were going door to door in the area checking on the well fair of residence in the area. Aside from a helicopter, K9 tracking, and what was at least 15 law enforcement officers from various local jurisdictions setup in a layered perimeter around the area the suspect evaded. I have included a mp3 segment of the Automatic License Plate Recognition vehicle convo and a swf clip showing a trooper setup at an exterior perimeter point.

UPDATE: 08/07/2011 Finally the word is out as they only had it for years. Link with video http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110807/NEWS02/108070...

UPDATE2: 12/02/2011 National general news on ALPR http://www.privacylives.com/washington-post-eyes-turn-to-lic...

UPDATE3: 12/08/2011 Have enough bank? - then you can even buy it http://www.avigilon.com/products/licenseplaterecognition/

UPDATE4: 07/31/2012 Getting some more press http://www.aclu.org/automatic-license-plate-readers-threat-a... Are they watching you? http://www.aclu.org/maps/automatic-license-plate-readers-are...

UPDATE5: 07/16/2012 Tracking you illegally? http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57594179/aclu-warns-of-m...

UPDATE6: 04/07/2015 Gone and done it - Even with all the Ed Snowden press now they are going national with ALPR. https://cdt.org/blog/government-keeps-its-eyes-on-the-road-w...