The use of Automated Number Plate Reading (ALPR) cameras is about to reach a new milestone in France. The Senate approved a bill aimed at generalizing these systems and significantly extending the retention period of the data collected, with the aim of strengthening the fight against crime. A development which poses very concrete questions for motorists, concerning safety but also respect for private life.
Already present on the roads, in certain city centers, on highways or at the entrance to parking lots, LAPI cameras allow automatic identification of license plates and, in some cases, capture images of the vehicle and its occupants. Until now, their use was mainly limited to serious crimes, the search for stolen vehicles or specific investigations. However, the text adopted by the Senate today extends this framework to new offenses, such as aggravated theft, receiving stolen property, violent escape or even aiding illegal stay.
New use cases: are you concerned?
For the average driver, the most notable change concerns the duration of data retention. Where information from LAPIs was previously stored for a few weeks, it could now be up to twelve monthssubject to judicial authorization. Concretely, this means that the movements of a vehicle could be consultable over a much longer period, as part of so-called complex or long-term investigations. For law enforcement, this extension represents a gain in time and precision. For motorists, it raises legitimate questions about journey tracking and travel traceability.
Another major development is the mandatory integration of LAPIs into video protection systems from 2028. This measure, designed in particular for major exceptional events, will in fact increase the density of cameras capable of reading plates. The network could thus pass from around 650 devices today to more than 5,000 in the long term. A rise in power which will make technology much more present in public space, sometimes without users being fully aware of it.
Greater security at stake
On the benefits side, the authorities highlight better prevention, an increased capacity to find vehicles involved in criminal cases and easier coordination between the police, gendarmerie, customs and municipalities. For some motorists, this may also mean a reduction in theft or faster resolution of serious traffic offenses.
The risks mainly concern the protection of personal data. Even if legally regulated, the prolonged retention of travel information fuels fears of widespread surveillance and possible misuse of long-term uses. The bill has so far only been adopted at first reading in the Senate. Its passage through the National Assembly will be decisive in specifying the safeguards and reassuring, or not, road users.
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