Second Report of the Axon AI & Policing Technology Ethics Board:
Automated License Plate Readers
OCTOBER 2019
 
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Table of Contents
I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4II ALPRs TODAY & AXON’S ENTRY INTO THE ALPR MARKET 10
 A. How ALPRs Work 
 12
 B. ALPR Use Today
13
 C. Axon’s Entry into the ALPR Market
 14
III PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT AND GUIDANCE REGARDING ALPR BENEFITS & COSTS
 A. Preliminary Assessment of Potential ALPR Benets
18 1. Improved Real-Time Location of Hot-List License Plates 18 2. Improved Historical Investigations 19 3. General Crime Deterrence 20
 4. Improved Traic Safety 20
 5. Increased Revenues 20 6. Reducing Arbitrariness and Bias 20
 7. Oicer Safety While Driving 21 8. Predictive Analysis 21
 B. Preliminary Assessment of Potential ALPR Costs
 22
 1. Increased Enforcement Generally and Its Likely Disparate Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Impacts
2. Increased Fines-and-Fees Enforcement and Its Disparate Impacts 23
 3. Inappropriate Stops 23 4. The Privacy Implications of Growing ALPR Databases 24
 5. Additional Potential Costs Depending on Use 25
 6. Lack of Information and Transparency Around ALPR Use 26
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IV RECOMMENDATIONS 28V FUTURE STUDY & STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT 38
 A. Continued Research
 39
 B. Stakeholder Engagement
 41
 C. Model Statute & Model ALPR Policy
 41
VI CONCLUSION 42VII ATTACHMENTS 44
 A. 10 Questions to Ask Your Law Enforcement Agency About ALPRs
 44
 B. Product Evaluation Framework 
 47
 1. Guidance on Assessing Potential Benets 47
 2. Guidance on Assessing Potential Costs 48
 C. References
49
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