Tempe City Council set to debate new limits on automatic license plate reader technology as civil liberties advocates raise concerns over surveillance in college town

The Tempe City Council is set to debate a proposed ordinance this week that would ban the city’s use of automated license plate readers for law enforcement purposes. Officials said the measure aims to address civil liberties concerns by prohibiting city funds for ALPR purchases and restricting data sharing, while allowing limited non-law enforcement uses such as parking management.

The proposed ordinance would codify a ban on the city’s use of automated license plate readers for law enforcement by prohibiting the use of city funds to purchase ALPR equipment or enter contracts with vendors such as Flock Safety, Axon, and Motorola’s Vigilant program, according to city documents and officials. While the ordinance would bar ALPR cameras on city-owned property for law enforcement purposes, it would allow limited non-law enforcement uses, such as in parking garages or lots, provided the systems only scan plates for business operations and do not collect personally identifying information.

Tempe ceased its use of automated license plate readers in August 2026, deactivating its Flock Safety system and ending its contract with the vendor.

The measure also includes restrictions on data sharing, forbidding routine dissemination of Tempe-generated ALPR data to other agencies or private entities. Exceptions would apply only in specific cases, such as when data from other jurisdictions is used under court orders or for missing-person investigations, city materials show. Additionally, the ordinance would require destruction of existing ALPR data unless retention is mandated by other laws or legal obligations. City staff who knowingly violate the ALPR ban could face termination or civil and criminal penalties, according to the draft language.

The cameras have been “bagged” and await removal, city sources confirmed. Councilmember Bobby Nichols, who is sponsoring the ordinance, said the city “will not seek a replacement” for the ALPR program and emphasized that the ordinance aims to permanently prohibit law enforcement use of the technology while allowing narrow, non-law enforcement applications. Nichols led a virtual informational meeting on September 9 and an in-person session at the Tempe Public Library to present the draft ordinance and gather public input, according to city records.

The city also conducted a public survey through September 15 to collect resident feedback on the proposed ban and related surveillance concerns. The first formal public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for September 24, when Nichols plans to introduce the measure to the City Council. A vote on the ordinance is expected on October 15, though some reports indicate the council could act earlier.

Mayor Corey Woods confirmed that Tempe has ended its ALPR program and is not pursuing new contracts, clarifying confusion after an Axon agenda item involving vehicle license plate readers appeared on a council agenda and drew public criticism. Woods stated, “Tempe has ended its automated license plate reader program and we are not seeking another provider.” City officials stressed that no new ALPR procurement contracts have been approved and that current efforts focus on terminating existing agreements and codifying the ban to prevent future councils from reintroducing the technology without legislative changes.

Tempe’s move comes amid broader concerns from civil liberties advocates and local privacy groups about the potential for mass surveillance and long-term tracking of drivers in the college town, which is home to Arizona State University’s main campus. Critics argue that ALPR systems can record movements of ordinary drivers, students, faculty, and visitors beyond any specific law enforcement need. Public attention intensified after the Axon agenda item surfaced, prompting community members to use public comment, surveys, and online campaigns to pressure the city to cancel ALPR contracts and make the ban permanent.

The draft ordinance specifically names Flock, Axon, and Motorola’s Vigilant as vendors whose ALPR products would be covered by the ban on purchase, use, and data sharing. Records show that Tempe canceled its Flock Safety contract and reaffirmed this decision at a September 1 city council meeting, citing privacy concerns. The Axon agenda item was subsequently pulled from the council agenda after criticism and clarification from city officials.

If adopted, the ordinance would create a local legal framework more restrictive than many other Arizona cities that continue to use ALPR systems. It allows limited exceptions for data obtained from other agencies or private operators under judicial warrants or court orders, maintaining some public safety capabilities without operating a city-owned ALPR network. The ordinance also permits business-purpose ALPRs on non-city property or in city parking facilities when systems do not collect or retain personally identifying information beyond operational necessity.

Tempe’s ordinance is being closely watched as a potential model for other municipalities in Arizona seeking to limit or roll back automated surveillance while still allowing regulated uses of plate-reading technology. The city’s efforts reflect ongoing debates statewide about the legal clarity of ALPR contracts, data retention, sharing, and oversight. The ordinance would embed the ALPR ban into City Code, making it more difficult for future administrations to reintroduce the technology without formal legislative action.