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Cameras get approved when nobody shows up.

Two generators. Fill in the blanks, copy, send. Works anywhere in the US.

A starting point, not legal advice. Every state's public-records law has its own rules on deadlines, fees, exemptions and appeals. Check yours (the Reporters Committee Open Government Guide is a good start) and consider asking a local attorney or press-freedom group if you hit a wall.

1. Records request generator

Ask your police department or sheriff for their ALPR contracts, policies, sharing lists and search audit logs.

Every state's law differs on deadlines, fees and how to submit. Find yours in the Reporters Committee Open Government Guide. Not legal advice. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

[Your Name]
[Address · Email · Phone]
October 11, 2026

To: Public Records Officer, [Agency name]

Re: Public records request: automated license plate reader (ALPR) records

Under [your state's public records law], I request copies of the following records, in electronic format where available:

1. All contracts, purchase orders, renewals, and invoices with any ALPR vendor (including Flock Safety) from January 1, 2024 to present.
2. Any policy, general order, or procedure governing ALPR use, data retention, sharing, and access.
3. A list of outside agencies or organizations with which ALPR data is shared, or which have access to your ALPR system or network.
4. Audit logs, search logs, or audit reports of ALPR queries from January 1, 2024 to present, including the stated reason for each search where recorded.
5. The number and locations of ALPR cameras operated by or on behalf of the agency.
6. Any records retention schedule that applies to ALPR data.

If any portion is withheld, please cite the specific exemption and release all reasonably segregable portions. If fees will exceed $25, please contact me before proceeding. I request a fee waiver because this information is in the public interest and is not sought for commercial purposes.

Thank you,
[Your Name]
Open in email

How to submit

  1. Find the agency's records officer or online portal. Search "[agency name] public records request."
  2. Submit the letter the way they ask (portal, email, or mail). Keep a copy.
  3. Write down the date sent and any confirmation or tracking number.
  4. Look up your state's response deadline so you know when to follow up.

Follow-up checklist

  • Got an acknowledgment? Save it.
  • Deadline passed? Send a polite written follow-up citing your original date.
  • Fee estimate? Ask for an itemized breakdown or narrow the request.
  • Denied or redacted? Ask which exemption applies and how to appeal.
  • Got records? Share what you learned with local reporters, your council, and us.

2. Council comment generator

Speak at public comment or email it to every council member.

Most councils allow 2–3 minutes per speaker. Check the agenda and sign-up rules. Written comments count too.

Re: Public comment on automated license plate readers

Good evening, Mayor and Council members. My name is [Name], and I live in [neighborhood].

I'm here about our city's automated license plate reader cameras. These cameras record every driver who passes them, not just suspects.

I'm asking the council to:
1. Publish the full contract, the camera locations, and the list of agencies that can access our data before any vote.
2. Release regular audit reports showing who searched the data and why.
3. Decline to renew or expand the program until these questions are answered publicly.

Other communities have already reconsidered these contracts. Our residents deserve the same open debate.

Thank you.
Open in email

Featured state

Idaho Code § 49-1432

Some states have laws specifically about license plate readers. In Idaho, Idaho Code § 49-1432 regulates how government agencies use ALPR systems. It doesn't restrict private individuals from noting where cameras are. It also requires agencies to keep records of searches and conduct audits, which are exactly the records the generator above asks for. Read the full text for the specifics.

Know your state's ALPR law? Send it in and we'll feature it.