Help us protect civil liberties here in RI
Make an end-of-year tax-deductible donation to support our work in the courts and the community!
ALPR Cameras 101: Surveillance in Rhode Island
Get updates about protecting civil liberties (like privacy!) in Rhode Island
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy statement.
Last updated on February 19, 2026
Automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras are rapidly being installed in Rhode Island but are virtually unregulated in our state. Many ALPR cameras, such as those made by the brand Flock Safety, are continuously collecting data that can be kept and accessed by law enforcement agencies across the country. In short, we’re being surveilled as we travel through our state. Learn more about ALPR cameras, and what you can do to help protect privacy in our communities.
Take Action
Tiverton Town Council is voting on the RI State Police's request to install a Flock Safety cameras as early as Monday, February 23.
Tiverton residents: Send a message to your Town Council here!
Here’s the short version:
- ALPRs, especially Flock Safety cameras, are capable of capturing much, much more information than regular license plate readers, and most RI police departments can share our data with other states and federal agencies, like ICE.
- There are at least 240 Flock cameras in RI. (We don't know the exact number because it’s hard to get detailed information from some police departments.) As a result, you can essentially be tracked as you travel across the state.
- These cameras are virtually unregulated in the state. Without state or local laws, we have very little transparency about how the data is being used, who can access the data, or how long the data is kept.