The Shaler Township (PA) board of commissioners has approved a contract with Vipr AI to run automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras within the township. I learned about this decision via a recording of Wednesday’s board meeting that’s posted to the Township’s YouTube channel.
To my knowledge, there were no opportunities for residents to weigh in on the decision before the vote.
ALPR systems are roadside cameras that photograph every passing vehicle and log its plate, time, and location in a database that police officers can search. Yes, ALPR systems capture images of crime suspects. But they also capture images of everyone. That means you driving to work, taking your kids to school, going to church, or visiting a doctor.
There are several reasons that I’m opposed to this technology in my neighborhood:
You can’t opt out. Nobody gets to decline to drive on a public road. Residents should have a choice about being surveilled.
Misuse is documented. Numerous investigations have found police department employees across the country have been charged with or accused of misusing license plate readers, many for tracking people they knew personally. The good folx at 404 Media have been covering this beat for a long time and their reporting on misuse of ALPR systems is detailed.
The benefit is unproven. The strongest studies on ALPRs are more than a decade old and tested cameras mounted on patrol cars, not fixed networks. To my knowledge there are no published statistics that prove a settled case for putting a surveillance network on our streets.
This isn’t about Vipr AI. My concern isn’t which vendor the Township chose, but rather the premise of ALPR cameras in Shaler at all. Whichever logo is on the box, the system works the same way: it’s a searchable record of where residents drive, open to anyone with a login.
What I’ve Done
I emailed my commissioner for Shaler Township Ward 5, Susan Fisher, and copied the rest of the board. I asked for three things:
- Release the full contract terms publicly.
- Publish a written policy covering data retention, who can search and why, and a ban on sharing data outside the department.
- Pause the contract until there is a public hearing.
I also filed a Right-to-Know Law request on 11/13/2026 for the executed contract, the Board’s approval records, any use or retention policies, any data-sharing agreements, and the number and locations of cameras. Under Pennsylvania law, the Township has five business days to respond, or to tell me it needs up to 30 more. Whatever I get back, I’ll post here. If the answer is no, I’ll post that too, and I’ll appeal.
What You Can Do
- Email the Board. Tell them what you think.
- Show up. Public comment is open at Board meetings. The next one is on December 8th. I will be there to voice my concern.
- Ask for the documents yourself. Any resident can file a Right-to-Know request. More requests make it clear that people are paying attention.
- Talk to your neighbors. Most people have no idea this is happening.
There is also a bill in Harrisburg, House Bill 2771, which passed the state House in October. It would require destroying ALPR data within 72 hours unless it’s relevant to an investigation, and it would ban selling or sharing the data. It’s now in the Senate. I’m glad our PA lawmakers are asking the same questions and I hope to see this bill become state law.
I am not against public safety. I want safe streets for my neighbors. For me this is more about whether a decision to install a big tech-powered surveillance dragnet gets made in the open, with rules written down and residents heard first. Our neighbors deserve a say.
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