Louisiana Police Clarify Use of License Plate Cameras

LOUISIANA — The Louisiana Police Department is providing more information about its newly installed license plate reader cameras after questions and concerns from residents about privacy and how the system is used.

Police Chief Josh Baker said the cameras are operated through Flock Safety and are designed to capture license plate information and vehicle characteristics. Baker said the system does not use facial recognition technology. Instead, it records license plate numbers along with details such as vehicle make, model, color, and the date, time, and location of travel.

Baker said the information is used strictly for law enforcement purposes, including locating stolen vehicles, identifying vehicles connected to wanted individuals, and assisting in criminal investigations. The data is stored securely by the company and is not maintained locally by the city.

According to Baker, officers must have a legitimate law enforcement reason tied to an incident or case before accessing the system. He said all use of the system is logged and subject to audit.

Baker also emphasized that the cameras are not used for traffic enforcement. He said they do not monitor speed and do not issue citations for speeding or other violations.

The system was funded through the Missouri Department of Public Safety’s Blue Shield grant program, meaning local tax dollars were not used for the initial purchase. The cameras were installed in phases, with most becoming operational earlier this year.

Six cameras are currently in service in Louisiana, with a seventh expected to be installed soon to complete the initial rollout. Baker said there are no immediate plans to expand beyond the current deployment.

The department says the cameras have already helped identify vehicles connected to individuals with active warrants and have assisted in developing leads in theft investigations. Officers can also receive real-time alerts when a vehicle connected to a stolen vehicle report, missing person, or wanted individual passes a camera.

While police describe the cameras as an investigative tool, automated license plate reader systems have drawn broader privacy concerns from critics who argue the technology can track vehicle movements over time and store that information in searchable databases across jurisdictions.

Baker said the department understands those concerns and said policies are in place governing access, usage, and data retention.