Class Action Puts California ALPR Compliance to the Test
A newly filed class action lawsuit against Motorola Solutions, Inc. seeks to test the application of California’s Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) Privacy Act and could have implications for private-sector users of ALPR technology.
Filed May 27, 2026, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, the lawsuit alleges that Motorola violated provisions of California Civil Code §§ 1798.90.5 et seq. through its operation of an automatic license plate reader system and related data-sharing practices. Although the claims arise under California law and focus on ALPR cameras located in California, the case was filed in Illinois because Motorola Solutions is headquartered in Chicago and is alleged to reside in Cook County for venue purposes.
The complaint describes Motorola as a nationwide provider of ALPR cameras, software, and analytics technology. According to the filing, Motorola’s ALPR platform includes both fixed and mobile cameras capable of capturing license plate information, vehicle images, location data, dates, times, and other information associated with vehicles traveling within range of the cameras. The lawsuit further alleges that Motorola’s ALPR platform allows users to search historical vehicle location information and review vehicle movement data collected through the system.
The plaintiffs, two California residents, allege that their vehicles were scanned by Motorola-operated ALPR cameras located near the University of California Merced. The lawsuit claims the cameras captured license plate information, geolocation data, and travel history information without notice to motorists and without their consent. The complaint further alleges that the information collected through the system was accessible to entities that California law does not authorize to receive such information.
At the center of the case are California’s ALPR regulations, which impose requirements on both “ALPR operators” and “ALPR end-users.” Under California law, an ALPR operator is generally defined as a person or entity that operates an ALPR system, while an ALPR end-user is a person or entity that accesses or uses an ALPR system. The lawsuit alleges that Motorola acted as both an ALPR operator and an ALPR end-user and was therefore subject to the statutory requirements applicable to each role.
The complaint does not name repossession agencies, collateral recovery companies, lenders, forwarders, or other members of the recovery industry. However, the statutory definitions relied upon in the lawsuit apply broadly to entities that operate ALPR systems or access ALPR information. The case therefore focuses on the legal obligations associated with operating and using ALPR technology rather than on any specific industry sector.
Among the allegations are claims that Motorola failed to maintain reasonable security procedures and practices to protect ALPR information from unauthorized access, use, modification, or disclosure. The complaint references prior publicly reported security incidents involving Motorola’s ALPR technology, including reports of vulnerabilities affecting certain ALPR devices and reports that some ALPR camera feeds and data streams could be viewed without authentication.
The lawsuit also alleges that Motorola failed to implement and conspicuously post a usage and privacy policy containing information required by California law. According to the complaint, California’s ALPR statute requires operators and end-users to maintain written policies addressing authorized uses, authorized personnel, training requirements, security measures, data retention practices, accuracy procedures, and restrictions on sharing ALPR information. The plaintiffs allege that Motorola’s policies did not contain all information required by statute and were not posted in a manner that satisfied California’s disclosure requirements.
Another significant allegation involves data sharing. The complaint alleges that information collected through Motorola’s California ALPR system was shared with federal agencies and agencies located outside California. The lawsuit references reports involving California law enforcement agencies that were allegedly sharing ALPR information with federal entities and non-California agencies through Motorola’s platform. The plaintiffs contend that such sharing violated California’s statutory framework governing ALPR information.
The lawsuit seeks certification of a class consisting of individuals whose license plate information or other identifying information was captured by Motorola’s California ALPR cameras during the proposed class period. The plaintiffs seek statutory damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and injunctive relief.
The case bears similarities to prior litigation involving private ALPR networks in that it challenges the collection, storage, and use of vehicle location information. However, the allegations in this lawsuit focus heavily on compliance with California’s ALPR regulatory requirements, including privacy policies, security safeguards, data-sharing practices, and statutory obligations imposed on ALPR operators and end-users.
As of this writing, the allegations contained in the complaint remain unproven, and Motorola has not yet had an opportunity to respond to the claims in court. The case is currently pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.
