What Is ALPR?
A neutral, attributed definition — what the term means and how supporters and critics use it.
ALPR (automated license plate recognition), also called ANPR, is software plus cameras that read vehicle license plates from images. Police, toll authorities, and private sites use it. Flock Safety is one vendor. Motorola, Genetec, and others sell ALPR too.
An ALPR hit is not the same as a Flock camera. Counting every ALPR as Flock is how inventories go wrong. Alto’s Flock desk separates Flock-tagged OpenStreetMap nodes from other ALPR tags.
What the system typically stores
A plate read, a time, a camera location, and often vehicle characteristics. Retention and who may search the database are policy and contract questions, not a single national rule.
Flock is a subset
Flock cameras are ALPRs. Many ALPRs are not Flock. The Flock explainer is at /flock/what-is-a-flock-camera. The map’s default filter is Flock only.
What Alto will not do
Alto does not operate a plate lookup and does not access vendor customer systems. Public maps of reported poles are community data, not a travel history.
Latest ALPR News
- Michigan GOP gubernatorial nominee takes nuanced approach to Flock camerasWashington Examiner•1 day ago
- Dallas Police Cut Flock Data Sharing From 1,500 Agencies To 202 In TexasDallas Express•2 days ago
- Cops Play Hide and Seek About Using Spy Tech to Avoid Scrutiny and Bad PR Electronic Frontier Foundation•3 days ago
- 2026 EFF Award Winners: Access Now, 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, DeFlock, and New Media Rights Electronic Frontier Foundation•3 days ago
- El Paso Police chief says Flock camera halt will impact response timesBorder Report•6 days ago
- Massachusetts state police ordered to make surveillance camera locations publicMashable•6 days ago
- ‘Pervasive and ungovernable.’ South Florida’s surveillance network is entrenched - Miami HeraldGoogle News•7 days ago
- In Red States, Law-and-Order Republicans Turn Against Flock Cameras - nytimes.comGoogle News•7 days ago
- Flock cameras are officially banned on state roads in FloridaEngadget•8 days ago
- Cop Shops Keep On Dropping Flock Like It’s HotTechdirt•8 days ago
- Tennessee official says Flock CEO should be hanged 'publicly for treason’ as controversial cameras face revoltFox News•8 days ago
- Dallas PD to Shut Down 321 Flock Cameras After Funding PauseNatural News•9 days ago
ALPR — Frequently Asked Questions
- What does ALPR stand for?
- Automated license plate recognition (or reader). In some countries the same idea is called ANPR — automatic number-plate recognition.
- Is every ALPR a Flock camera?
- No. Flock Safety is one manufacturer. Other vendors sell ALPR systems to police and private sites.
- Where can I see reported Flock locations?
- Alto’s Flock desk and map plot OpenStreetMap nodes tagged as Flock Safety. The map is incomplete and unofficial.