Austin council member pulls item on automated license-plate-reader pilot, cites civil‑liberties concerns

Council Member Siegel pulled agenda item 103 from the addendum on March 25, saying the council should allow the current automated license plate reader (ALPR) pilot to finish and the results of a pending audit to be released before voting on making the program permanent. "I'm concerned with how our city's participation in, frankly, a mass surveillance program such as automated license plate readers could negatively impact our community," Siegel said, specifically naming immigrants and people seeking reproductive and gender‑affirming care as vulnerable groups.