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License-plate readers · Shelby County

Shelby County

Using license-plate readers · 6 agencies documented

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Hoover Police Department

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
Flock Safety
Cameras
Count not documented
WBRC (June 2024) reported the city would have more than 100 cameras across 50 square miles after 10 more were added; not an LPR-only count and not confirmed since.
Sources
WBRC, June 18, 2024
  1. June 2024 The City Council approved a partnership with Alabama Power to put 10 more Flock cameras on Alabama Power poles in the right of way; WBRC reported the city keeps ownership of the recordings. Exact vote date and cost not reported. (WBRC, June 18, 2024)
Conflicts and open questions
  • No Hoover-specific ALPR item found from Nov. 2025 onward in this round, though a 2024 network of 100+ cameras makes current use likely; a records request should settle status.

Reported by news outlets; agency records not yet obtained.

Vestavia Hills Police Department

Status
Using license-plate readers
Vendors
Vendor not named in source
Cameras
Count not documented
No count found.
Sources
ABC 33/40 (WBMA), Aug. 26, 2019; ABC 33/40 (WBMA), May 19, 2026
  1. Aug. 2019 ABC 33/40 reported the city was expected to approve plate-reader technology at a Monday council meeting; the outcome was not reported. (ABC 33/40 (WBMA), Aug. 26, 2019)
  2. May 2026 Police said they used license plate reader technology in a vehicle-fraud investigation announced May 19, 2026 (vendor not named). (ABC 33/40 (WBMA), May 19, 2026)

Reported by news outlets; agency records not yet obtained.

Alabaster Police Department

Status
Using license-plate readers
Vendors
Flock Safety
Cameras
Count not documented
No count found.
Sources
ABC 33/40 (WBMA), July 28, 2026
  1. July 2026 Detective Andrew Rowan said only trained, authorized staff can use the Flock system, with audits and supervisor review, and that it has helped find suspects and stolen vehicles. (ABC 33/40 (WBMA), July 28, 2026)

Reported by news outlets; agency records not yet obtained.

Calera Police Department

Status
Using license-plate readers
Vendors
Flock Safety
Cameras
Count not documented
No count reported.
Sources
WBRC, Aug. 24, 2026
  1. Aug. 2026 Chief David Hyche described new Flock safeguards: in-person training for all employees in August 2026, signed rule acknowledgments, mandatory reason and case entries for each search, and more thorough audits. He said the system was used in the prior 30 days in violent, property, car-theft and sex-offense cases. (WBRC, Aug. 24, 2026)

Reported by news outlets; agency records not yet obtained.

Montevallo Police Department

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
Flock Safety
Cameras
Count not documented
No count reported.
Sources
ABC 33/40 (WBMA), July 28, 2022
  1. July 2022 Chief Jeremy Littleton called the Flock cameras a 'force multiplier.' (ABC 33/40 (WBMA), July 28, 2022)

Reported by news outlets; agency records not yet obtained.

Shelby County Sheriff's Office

Status
Program documented, current use unconfirmed
Vendors
Flock Safety
Cameras
Count not documented
No agency count; ABC 33/40 (2022) cited nearly 500 Flock cameras in the Birmingham metro overall.
Sources
ABC 33/40 (WBMA), July 28, 2022
  1. July 2022 Maj. Clay Hammac described Flock data as 'invaluable' for partial-tag searches and said use is limited to law enforcement and public safety purposes. (ABC 33/40 (WBMA), July 28, 2022)
Conflicts and open questions
  • Nothing found from Nov. 2025 onward.

Reported by news outlets; agency records not yet obtained.

Statewide

  1. May 22, 2020 ALDOT opened comment on rules allowing police plate readers on state rights-of-way; Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) said he would file legislation to limit government use. (BirminghamWatch (from Alabama Daily News), May 22, 2020)
  2. April 15, 2021 SB2 (2021), Orr's bill limiting law enforcement plate-reader use, setting confidentiality, destruction of data and criminal penalties, was amended in Senate Judiciary; it passed the Senate but died in the House. NBC 15 reported it would have required destruction after 30 months. (LegiScan, April 15, 2021; WSFA via WBRC, Aug. 27, 2026; NBC 15 (WPMI), Aug. 24, 2026)
  3. March 17, 2022 Alabama Justice Information Commission rules (Ala. Admin. Code ch. 265-X-6, authority Code of Ala. §41-9-620) took effect: plate-reader data only for criminal justice or public safety purposes; moved to an agency-controlled repository within 24 hours; access and dissemination logs; written public agency policy required before use; retention no more than five years unless tied to an active case (with ALEA notice); vendors must sign an ALEA CJIS security agreement; ALEA audits at least every three years, with access suspended after 90 days of noncompliance; plate, time, location and ORI to go to a State LPR Registry within 48 hours once ALEA establishes it. (Alabama Administrative Code (Alabama Justice Information Commission), March 17, 2022)
  4. Feb. 1, 2023 ALDOT permit requirement for public safety sensors on its right-of-way took full effect; unpermitted devices became removable encroachments. (Alabama Department of Transportation, Jan. 1, 2023)
  5. 2026 The Alabama Sheriffs Association posted support for Flock and similar plate readers, saying agencies should have policies to protect the data (FOX10, Aug. 2, 2026; exact post date not given). FOX10 (Aug. 2, 2026) said the post went up that week. (FOX10 (WALA), Aug. 2, 2026)
  6. Aug. 24, 2026 Sen. Arthur Orr said he plans a 2027 bill: shorter retention (six months to a year), a warrant to access data with emergency exceptions, and tougher penalties for misuse. Later (Sept. 3) he said a statewide ban, stricter limits (retention from two weeks or 30 days up to a year; law-enforcement-only access), or the status quo were options, and called ALDOT's rules minimal. Sen. Robert Stewart (D-Selma) also backs changes. Prefiled bills expected after the Nov. 3, 2026 election; session begins in February 2027. (NBC 15 (WPMI), Aug. 24, 2026; WSFA via WBRC, Aug. 27, 2026; ABC 33/40, Sept. 3, 2026)
  7. Sept. 1, 2026 Rep. Rick Rehm (R-District 85) floated a full ban or tighter data rules; Sen. Donnie Chesteen said the Senate will likely take up the issue early in the session. Gov. Kay Ivey's office had not responded. (WTVY (via FOX10), Sept. 1, 2026)
  8. Sept. 18, 2026 Spectrum News reported no specific Alabama statute governs plate readers and cited an Alabama Policy Institute estimate of close to 2,800 Flock cameras in the state. (Spectrum News, Sept. 18, 2026)
  9. Sept. 22, 2026 ALDOT records obtained by WPMI/ABC 33/40 showed 872 public-safety sensors approved on state rights-of-way statewide; records did not show retention, access, vendor or safeguards. (ABC 33/40, Sept. 22, 2026)

State agencies

Alabama Department of Transportation

Status
Checked: no program found
Vendors
Cameras
Count not documented
Permitting authority; no source shows ALDOT operating plate readers. ABC 33/40 (Sept. 22, 2026) reported ALDOT records show 872 public-safety sensors approved for other agencies on state rights-of-way (430 in central Alabama).
Sources
ABC 33/40, Sept. 22, 2026; Alabama Department of Transportation, Jan. 1, 2023; Alabama Department of Transportation, Sept. 3, 2026; Alabama Department of Transportation, Oct. 31, 2026; BirminghamWatch (from Alabama Daily News), May 22, 2020
  1. May 22, 2020 ALDOT proposed rules letting city, county and state law enforcement place plate readers and other 'public safety sensors' on its rights-of-way; three-year permits, no fee, use limited to law enforcement/public safety, no monetizing data; comments due May 29, 2020. (BirminghamWatch (from Alabama Daily News), May 22, 2020)
  2. Feb. 1, 2023 Unpermitted sensors on ALDOT right-of-way without a submitted application became unlawful encroachments subject to removal (deadline to apply Jan. 31, 2023). Applicants need an ORI and an ALEA CJIS vendor verification permit for each LPR vendor. (Alabama Department of Transportation, Jan. 1, 2023)
  3. Sept. 3, 2026 Active-application list updated; in this region it shows approved LPR permits for Gulf Shores PD and Pine Hill PD and pending LPR applications for Atmore, Brewton, Grove Hill, Semmes and Spanish Fort police. (Alabama Department of Transportation, Sept. 3, 2026)
Conflicts and open questions
  • ALDOT's permit page links ALEA/AJIC rule chapter 265-X-6. The FAQ sets no retention period.

From agency records.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (CJIS Division)

Status
Checked: no program found
Vendors
Cameras
Count not documented
No source found showing ALEA operates its own readers. Under AJIC rule chapter 265-X-6 the ALEA CJIS Division is to keep a State LPR Registry, audit capturing agencies at least every three years and report each year to the commission; vendors must sign an ALEA CJIS security agreement. ALDOT's permit FAQ requires an ALEA CJIS vendor verification permit for each LPR vendor. In 2020 ALEA said it had no plans to use ALDOT property for sensors.
Sources
Alabama Administrative Code (Alabama Justice Information Commission), March 17, 2022; Alabama Department of Transportation, Jan. 1, 2023; BirminghamWatch (from Alabama Daily News), May 22, 2020
  1. March 17, 2022 AJIC rule chapter 265-X-6 took effect, giving ALEA CJIS the registry, audit and annual-report duties. (Alabama Administrative Code (Alabama Justice Information Commission), March 17, 2022)
Conflicts and open questions
  • Whether the State LPR Registry has been established is not known (records request).

From agency records.