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Vehicles travel past a newly installed automatic license plate reader in West Hartford. A growing number of municipalities in Connecticut are using federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to purchase new police surveillance technology. Credit: Andrew Brown / CT Mirror

No.

Automated license plate readers, or ALPRs like those designed by the well-known company Flock, are not used to enforce traffic laws in Connecticut.

ALPRs are different than traffic cameras because they are not triggered by an action like speeding. The cameras continuously capture vehicle information such as license plate numbers, make, model, color and other identifying features. They do not measure vehicle speed or detect red-light violations.

Police use the technology to: locate stolen vehicles; investigate crimes such as burglaries, assaults and thefts; find missing persons; and get alerts when vehicles connected to criminal investigations enter an area. The cameras also don’t use facial recognition technology.

Under Connecticut law, agencies generally must delete data after 21 days unless it is tied to an active criminal investigation. The law also prohibits using ALPR data for immigration enforcement, monitoring First Amendment activities, or investigations involving reproductive or gender-affirming healthcare.

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Reginald David is the Community Engagement Reporter for CT Mirror. He builds relationships across Connecticut to elevate community voices and deepen public dialogue around local issues. Previously, he was a producer at KCUR 89.3, Kansas City’s NPR station, where he created community-centered programming, led live event coverage for major events like the NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parade, and Royals Opening Day, and launched KC Soundcheck, a music series spotlighting local and national artists. Reginald has also hosted special segments, including an in-depth interview with civil rights leader Alvin Brooks and live community coverage on issues like racial segregation and neighborhood development. He began his public media career as an ‘Integrity in News’ intern at WNPR in Hartford.