Scale of the System: Records Indicate Arizona Vehicle Surveillance Networks Can Reach 95,000+ Cameras

Exclusive records show vehicle plate searches in Arizona can extend across tens of thousands of cameras, with policies set locally and much of the network operating beyond public view.

Law enforcement agencies across Arizona have raised concerns about shrinking staffing levels and have increasingly turned to technology to supplement operations. As surveillance tools expand, the balance between public safety and personal privacy is no longer abstract. It can be examined through available data.

Across the state, departments are using aut…