Rio Rancho police have expanded their use of automated license plate readers from five to 19, sparking concerns about privacy and data usage, KOAT reports.
The cameras, provided by Flock Safety, capture license plate information as vehicles pass, giving police another way to locate stolen vehicles and help with investigations. Police said the system provides a photograph and the location of each hit, and it has helped them track vehicles connected to major crimes, including a homicide, a bank robbery and recent shootings. The department also pointed to a drop in stolen-vehicle reports, from 214 in 2022 to 103 in 2025.
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The expansion has raised questions about who can access the system and what safeguards prevent abuse. Under the city’s agreement with Flock Safety, the data belongs to the department, not the company, and is deleted after 30 days. District 3 Councilor Bob Tyler said anyone caught using the information for anything other than official use will be prosecuted and fired. A resident named Ron told KOAT he does not believe those assurances, saying the cameras invade privacy and officials announced them without asking community leaders and constituents.
About This Story
Daily Reports is Brant.One’s news roundup. Each day we gather the New Mexico stories worth knowing from newsrooms across the state, sum them up and point you to the source. This one comes from KOAT’s reporting, and their original story has the interviews and full details.
Editor’s note: Updated Oct. 31, 2026. This story is now part of Daily Reports, our New Mexico news roundup, and was revised to credit KOAT’s original reporting. Learn how Daily Reports works in our editorial standards.
