Learn · Rights
Opting out of LPR surveillance
Also known as: LPR opt-out, plate reader opt-out
Practical and legal options for reducing your exposure to license plate readers — and the limits of what "opting out" actually means.
The honest answer
There is no consumer-facing opt-out form for police-operated LPRs. If a camera is on a public road and you drive past it, your plate is captured. The only meaningful "opt-out" mechanisms are political (push your city council to limit retention or remove cameras), legal (file public-records requests and lawsuits), and practical (avoid known camera corridors when possible).
Vendor-side opt-outs
Some private vendors — most notably Flock Safety — offer a limited consumer opt-out portal that suppresses your plate from search results across their network. This does NOT delete the underlying captures; it filters them from queries. The opt-out is per-plate and must be renewed if you change vehicles.
What actually moves the needle
Documented advocacy works. Cities including Sedona (AZ), San Marino (CA), and Norfolk (VA) have ended Flock contracts after sustained public pressure backed by records requests. Knowing where the cameras are — and who operates them — is the first step.