Across the country, cities are blanketing streets with high-speed cameras that scan and record the details of every passing car, storing millions of data points about where people go, when, and how often. Officials say that automatic license plate readers (ALPRs) make it easier for law enforcement to keep communities safe. But behind the promises of efficiency and public safety lies a deeper question: Should the government be able to track your every move without a warrant?
Join the Institute for Justice (IJ) for a timely discussion on how this powerful technology collides with the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and what lawyers, legislators, and members of the public can do to draw the line between legitimate law enforcement and unconstitutional surveillance.
Moderated by Alasdair Whitney, Legislative Counsel at IJ, this webinar brings together experts on the legal frontlines and leaders shaping state policy:
- Michael Soyfer, Attorney at IJ, is litigating a federal lawsuit against the City of Norfolk, Virginia, challenging the city’s expansive ALPR surveillance dragnet.
- Rob Poggenklass, Executive Director at Justice Forward Virginia, a non-profit organization that has helped shape state policy on ALPR use.
- Montana Senator Daniel Zolnikov, who authored the state’s landmark ALPR legislation that established meaningful protections for motorists in Big Sky Country.
Together, they’ll unpack how constant, warrantless surveillance threatens motorists’ Fourth Amendment rights, why courts and legislatures are struggling to keep up, and how states can enact meaningful limits that uphold both safety and freedom.
Whether you’re a policymaker, journalist, or citizen concerned about privacy on the open road, this discussion will explore a question that cuts to the heart of constitutional liberty: In a free society, how much tracking is too much?
Speakers
Executive Director at Justice Forward Virginia
Montana Senator