Local law enforcement agencies are installing security systems that track license plates in communities across the United States.

Posted by VINCE, Aug 18, 2026Checked Nov 2, 2026

Polygraph verdictTrue

Sources: 6 support2 context
Said: 1 time·
Confidence: 90%

VINCEAug 18, 2026

Multiple independent sources confirm that local police and sheriff's agencies across the U.S. are installing automated license plate reader networks that capture and log vehicle plates, most often through Flock Safety. The claim's wording stays close to the passage's point about local agencies putting up camera webs, and the sources support it as of 2026-08-18.

This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.

What was said

… In other words, the blanket security state is growing to brand new levels right here in the United States of America. Now, much of this is because local police departments and local law enforcement agencies are putting up webs of security systems all around their communities, and the end result is that now practically every inch of our country is being surveilled again at new levels. Now, for years, we've looked at a place like Communist China and gone, "Hey, wait a second. …

VINCE · Aug 18, 2026· from the transcriptPost →

What we found

Supports. The AP reports that more than 125 cities and counties across Michigan have license plate readers that photograph every passing car, primarily operated under contract with Flock Safety.[1]

Supports. NBC News reports that more than 5,000 U.S. law enforcement departments use interconnected Flock cameras to track residents' movements.[3]

Supports. A Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury report states that ALPRs have been adopted by more than 300 law enforcement agencies in California and are a standard tool for law enforcement.[4]

Supports. Local reporting from Birmingham, Alabama, Monterey County, California, and metro Denver describes local police installing and using plate-reading cameras in their own communities.[5][6][7]

Context. Culver City PD's page says its ALPRs capture vehicle images on public roads and are not used for live surveillance, and advocacy and privacy sources dispute that framing. This is a disagreement about purpose and does not contradict the claim that the systems are being installed and track plates.[2][8]

Context. Some cities, including Bay City and Ferndale in Michigan, have backed out of Flock contracts, so deployments are not uniformly growing. This does not reverse the claim as of 2026-08-18.[1]