Are automatic plate readers legal? (1 Viewer)

[TLEF316]

Got pulled over driving down to South Jersey on Saturday. (back road, no traffic) I saw the cop pull up behind me and like 2 minutes later he flips his lights on. As far as I can tell, I wasn't speeding and didn't commit any other sort of violation.

When we walks up to the car, he tells me that he pulled me over because my registration is expired. I take my info out of the glove box and sure enough, it expired in January. I'm sure they sent me a re-up slip at some point but I probably just forgot to do it. So, ok, guilty as charged.

I politely ask him how he even knew to pull me over. He tells me that they now have automatic plate readers on the front of the car that automatically pull my info and send it to his computer. Then he acts like he's doing me a break by not towing my car, writes me a ticket and sends me on my way (Typical actions of rich NJ township cops with literally NOTHING ELSE to do in my experience).

How is this not the equivalent of an illegal search? They had absolutely no cause to run my plates. Its basically the digital version of stop and frisk.

Obviously I'm just going to pay the stupid ticket (and I'll go to the DMV this afternoon to renew my expired registration) but this kind of nonsense just really annoys me. Nothing but a BS money grab by a police department with too much $$$ and not enough crimes to stop.

 

[belljr]

You know in the old days they would just type in your plate

 

[[icon]]

Running plates requires no probable cause or consent to search. Perfectly legal and simply an example of technology making law enforcement more efficient.,

 

[Godsbrother]

I don't see how they illegally searched anything.

 

[fantasycurse42]

I get a camera light ticket or photo speeding ticket in the mail once every few months, just as much nonsense as this.

I agree about the rich NJ township cops having nothing else to do either.

 

[TLEF316]

I don't see how they illegally searched anything.

How is this different from stopping and frisking someone for no reason whatsoever?

Not trying to say this was some sort of gross injustice (I was guilty of the "crime" and although I think this probably justified a warning rather than a ticket, I'll gladly go pay the fine) but it just seems like an invasion of privacy to me. Its basically one step towards cops randomly driving down the street with a machine that can see through the walls of your house.

 

[belljr]

I don't see how they illegally searched anything.

How is this different from stopping and frisking someone for no reason whatsoever?

Not trying to say this was some sort of gross injustice (I was guilty of the "crime" and although I think this probably justified a warning rather than a ticket, I'll gladly go pay the fine) but it just seems like an invasion of privacy to me. Its basically one step towards cops randomly driving down the street with a machine that can see through the walls of your house.

How is it any different than when they would drive behind you and manually enter your plates in their computer?

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

It's no different then him sitting behind you at a light, running your tags and pulling you over.

He did do you a favor by letting you drive away. He could have taken your tags and left you to wait for the tow truck.

I want to be on your side as always GB, but can't ride with you this time.

 

[TLEF316]

I don't see how they illegally searched anything.

How is this different from stopping and frisking someone for no reason whatsoever?

Not trying to say this was some sort of gross injustice (I was guilty of the "crime" and although I think this probably justified a warning rather than a ticket, I'll gladly go pay the fine) but it just seems like an invasion of privacy to me. Its basically one step towards cops randomly driving down the street with a machine that can see through the walls of your house.

How is it any different than when they would drive behind you and manually enter your plates in their computer?

From a privacy standpoint, I guess it isn't. But at least that would require some actual police work.

 

[The Commish]

Don't they use this sort of technology trying to find cars that are to be impounded because of too many parking tickets etc? I've always assumed that since one is broadcasting the information for all to see that the "data" was free to be used.

 

[bostonfred]

I get a camera light ticket or photo speeding ticket in the mail once every few months, just as much nonsense as this.

I agree about the rich NJ township cops having nothing else to do either.

how do you still have a license?

 

[AAABatteries]

 

[shadyridr]

If they were illegal would the cop have told you he was using one?

 

[TLEF316]

It's no different then him sitting behind you at a light, running your tags and pulling you over.

He did do you a favor by letting you drive away. He could have taken your tags and left you to wait for the tow truck.

I want to be on your side as always GB, but can't ride with you this time.

Honestly, I wish that he had done that. The way it went down, he basically just got a free ticket to add to his quota without doing any actual work.

 

[Cjw_55106]

Typical actions of rich NJ township cops with literally NOTHING ELSE to do in my experience.

this kind of nonsense just really annoys me. Nothing but a BS money grab by a police department with too much $$$ and not enough crimes to stop.



Dude, ####### JANUARY!! It isnt like you just missed the cut because you had a busy weekend.

 

[TLEF316]

If they were illegal would the cop have told you he was using one?

I guess my question should have been phrased "should they be legal". In my opinion, they shouldn't. This is basically a random search of a citizen (without cause) to determine whether they've committed a crime.

 

[mr roboto]

Well for one your plate is visible. And the state gives you the plate and grants you the privilege.

 

[Godsbrother]

If they were illegal would the cop have told you he was using one?

I guess my question should have been phrased "should they be legal". In my opinion, they shouldn't. This is basically a random search of a citizen (without cause) to determine whether they've committed a crime.

Cops use radar to randomly catch speeders. Should radar be legal?

 

[TLEF316]

If they were illegal would the cop have told you he was using one?

I guess my question should have been phrased "should they be legal". In my opinion, they shouldn't. This is basically a random search of a citizen (without cause) to determine whether they've committed a crime.

Cops use radar to randomly catch speeders. Should radar be legal?

Different concept in my opinion. The speed of my car is something that can physically measured without knowing who I am or pulling my information. Its also a public safety issue.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

But they didn't search you. :shuked:

Now I'm not sure if this is true or not but I've always been told that because your paperwork/tags are bad, that gives the officer the right to search your vehicle.

I always make sure my tags are good when I'm riding dirty

 

[Godsbrother]

If they were illegal would the cop have told you he was using one?

I guess my question should have been phrased "should they be legal". In my opinion, they shouldn't. This is basically a random search of a citizen (without cause) to determine whether they've committed a crime.

Cops use radar to randomly catch speeders. Should radar be legal?

Different concept in my opinion. The speed of my car is something that can physically measured without knowing who I am or pulling my information. Its also a public safety issue.

A license plate and registration can be physically measured to see if it is valid.

There are parking meters where you put in your plate number and pay for a certain amount of time. During the day the police drive by and scan license plates -- if your plate comes up with time expired they give you a ticket. Should it be legal?

 

[bigbottom]

If they were illegal would the cop have told you he was using one?

I guess my question should have been phrased "should they be legal". In my opinion, they shouldn't. This is basically a random search of a citizen (without cause) to determine whether they've committed a crime.

This is using publicly displayed information to search public records over which you have no reasonable expectation of privacy in this context.

 

[fantasycurse42]

I get a camera light ticket or photo speeding ticket in the mail once every few months, just as much nonsense as this.

I agree about the rich NJ township cops having nothing else to do either.

how do you still have a license?

BC those have zero points, just a money grab.

 

[Jayrok]

Does NJ have month decals on the license plate? If so and it ran out in January, he could easily see your plates have expired without any type of plate reader.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

If they were illegal would the cop have told you he was using one?

I guess my question should have been phrased "should they be legal". In my opinion, they shouldn't. This is basically a random search of a citizen (without cause) to determine whether they've committed a crime.

This is using publicly displayed information to search public records over which you have no reasonable expectation of privacy in this context.

This. Your tags are visible for everybody to see -- that's the whole point of having tags in the first place. I don't see how you can reasonably expect them to be off-limits to law enforcement.

 

[RUSF18]

It's no different then him sitting behind you at a light, running your tags and pulling you over.

He did do you a favor by letting you drive away. He could have taken your tags and left you to wait for the tow truck.

I want to be on your side as always GB, but can't ride with you this time.

Honestly, I wish that he had done that. The way it went down, he basically just got a free ticket to add to his quota without doing any actual work.

If typing a combination of 6 letters and numbers into a computer crosses the barrier in becoming "work" to you, well...are you hiring?

 

[chet]

If they were illegal would the cop have told you he was using one?

I guess my question should have been phrased "should they be legal". In my opinion, they shouldn't. This is basically a random search of a citizen (without cause) to determine whether they've committed a crime.

A random search? You're driving with publicly displayed plates and a registration sticker. Are you joking?

 

[The Commish]

It's no different then him sitting behind you at a light, running your tags and pulling you over.

He did do you a favor by letting you drive away. He could have taken your tags and left you to wait for the tow truck.

I want to be on your side as always GB, but can't ride with you this time.

Honestly, I wish that he had done that. The way it went down, he basically just got a free ticket to add to his quota without doing any actual work.

So is this a search issue to you or is it a laziness issue? I think the search issue has been resolved. To the laziness issue. Do you get angry when a clerk at a store scans the barcode on a product instead of manually punching in the numbers on the key pad?

 

[Long Ball Larry]

If they were illegal would the cop have told you he was using one?

I guess my question should have been phrased "should they be legal". In my opinion, they shouldn't. This is basically a random search of a citizen (without cause) to determine whether they've committed a crime.

This is using publicly displayed information to search public records over which you have no reasonable expectation of privacy in this context.

This. Your tags are visible for everybody to see -- that's the whole point of having tags in the first place. I don't see how you can reasonably expect them to be off-limits to law enforcement.

seriously, how is this difficult to comprehend?

 

[FUBAR]

Got pulled over driving down to South Jersey on Saturday. (back road, no traffic) I saw the cop pull up behind me and like 2 minutes later he flips his lights on. As far as I can tell, I wasn't speeding and didn't commit any other sort of violation.

When we walks up to the car, he tells me that he pulled me over because my registration is expired. I take my info out of the glove box and sure enough, it expired in January. I'm sure they sent me a re-up slip at some point but I probably just forgot to do it. So, ok, guilty as charged.

I politely ask him how he even knew to pull me over. He tells me that they now have automatic plate readers on the front of the car that automatically pull my info and send it to his computer. Then he acts like he's doing me a break by not towing my car, writes me a ticket and sends me on my way (Typical actions of rich NJ township cops with literally NOTHING ELSE to do in my experience).

How is this not the equivalent of an illegal search? They had absolutely no cause to run my plates. Its basically the digital version of stop and frisk.

Obviously I'm just going to pay the stupid ticket (and I'll go to the DMV this afternoon to renew my expired registration) but this kind of nonsense just really annoys me. Nothing but a BS money grab by a police department with too much $$$ and not enough crimes to stop.

I don't see how they illegally searched anything.

How is this different from stopping and frisking someone for no reason whatsoever?

Not trying to say this was some sort of gross injustice (I was guilty of the "crime" and although I think this probably justified a warning rather than a ticket, I'll gladly go pay the fine) but it just seems like an invasion of privacy to me. Its basically one step towards cops randomly driving down the street with a machine that can see through the walls of your house.

It's no different then him sitting behind you at a light, running your tags and pulling you over.

He did do you a favor by letting you drive away. He could have taken your tags and left you to wait for the tow truck.

I want to be on your side as always GB, but can't ride with you this time.

Honestly, I wish that he had done that. The way it went down, he basically just got a free ticket to add to his quota without doing any actual work.

If they were illegal would the cop have told you he was using one?

I guess my question should have been phrased "should they be legal". In my opinion, they shouldn't. This is basically a random search of a citizen (without cause) to determine whether they've committed a crime.

This is using publicly displayed information to search public records over which you have no reasonable expectation of privacy in this context.

Winner!

 

[NutterButter]

You really should be grateful you didn't get towed. It happened to a work colleague and I'd imagine its pretty common. That would've been a real headache.

 

[TLEF316]

Well then I guess I'm wrong.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Well then I guess I'm wrong.

No sweat, it happens to best of us and apparently.... You.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

I don't see how they illegally searched anything.

How is this different from stopping and frisking someone for no reason whatsoever?

It's pretty much the same thing except for (a) the stopping and (b) the frisking. (Stopping you after noticing your violation doesn't count.)

Not trying to say this was some sort of gross injustice (I was guilty of the "crime" and although I think this probably justified a warning rather than a ticket, I'll gladly go pay the fine) but it just seems like an invasion of privacy to me. Its basically one step towards cops randomly driving down the street with a machine that can see through the walls of your house.

Yes, except for the part about viewing anything private.

 

[Joe Summer]

Don't your plates show the expiration date on them? Mine do (in Oregon).

 

[ffjunk]

Don't your plates show the expiration date on them? Mine do (in Oregon).

Here in Mass they show it too. The last number on your plate, provided it's not a vanity plate, coincides with the month that it will expire. So they just do a quick glimpse to see the number and the color of the sticker. Not sure about auto readers though.

 

[sbonomo]

Don't your plates show the expiration date on them? Mine do (in Oregon).

in az they are color coded to make it easier for the police...is that illegal as well? I dont think this is going the way the op invisioned

 

[NutterButter]

Don't your plates show the expiration date on them? Mine do (in Oregon).

Here in Mass they show it too. The last number on your plate, provided it's not a vanity plate, coincides with the month that it will expire. So they just do a quick glimpse to see the number and the color of the sticker. Not sure about auto readers though.

Don't do stickers anymore in NJ. We used to, but no one put them on so I guess they stopped doing that.

 

[RUSF18]

Don't your plates show the expiration date on them? Mine do (in Oregon).

in az they are color coded to make it easier for the police...is that illegal as well? I dont think this is going the way the op invisioned

Next I'm expecting him to be asking if it's okay to take an uninvited grandkid to a wedding.

 

[comfortably numb]

I'm glad they are legal.

Finding stolen cars or wanted criminals > getting busted for a expired registration

 

[heckmanm]

Don't your plates show the expiration date on them? Mine do (in Oregon).

in az they are color coded to make it easier for the police...is that illegal as well? I dont think this is going the way the op invisioned

Next I'm expecting him to be asking if it's okay to take an uninvited grandkid to a wedding.

BS appetizer grab IMO

 

[NREC34]

You need to fight this all the way to the Supreme Court. Don't let these guys discourage you.

 

[MC Gas Money]

Doesnt matter. Johnny law can do what he wants.

He could have pulled you over, blew your brains out across the dash, jacked off on your upholstery,sprinkle some crack on you and walked away.

Worst that would happen is he gets a paid vacation while they do their "investigation"

Thats assuming you are white. If you arent then they will just give him a commendation.

 

[JaxBill]

Surprised that JW hasn't been in here to complain the Fascist police that run this country yadda, yadda,yadda

 

[NCCommish]

I could be misremembering but didn't an officer used to need a reason to run a tag? Of course machine running every tag it reads isn't discriminatory or doing it to get a woman's address. I guess my opinion requires some more information on how much info the cop can acquire. As far as public info goes what site do you use to run tags? I'd love to check it out.

 

[comfortably numb]

I could be misremembering but didn't an officer used to need a reason to run a tag? Of course machine running every tag it reads isn't discriminatory or doing it to get a woman's address. I guess my opinion requires some more information on how much info the cop can acquire. As far as public info goes what site do you use to run tags? I'd love to check it out.

www.walkuptocarandlookatsticker.com

 

[TLEF316]

No stickers in nj anymore

 

[comfortably numb]

No stickers in nj anymore

ahhhhh, thought you meant inspection sticker for some reason

 

[rockaction]

I see absolutely nothing wrong with TLEF's larger sentiment about feeling that this is an erosion of privacy. Just because something is legal by an extended analogy doesn't make it right.

I'm a little surprised by the responses in this thread. These plate readers aren't just being used to run plates. They're also, and I think admittedly, being used to track movements of private individuals. Police departments have gone so far as to attach GPS trackers on the undersides of vehicles, a practice barely overturned by the Supreme Court. Our privacy erodes daily. I'd like to think that a debate about this is in the offing, as I don't see a surveillance state as a state that fosters much patriotism on my end.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Read this article from 2011 on tag readers in DC.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/license-plate-readers-a-useful-tool-for-police-comes-with-privacy-concerns/2011/11/18/gIQAuEApcN_print.html