GAITHERSBURG, Md. (7News) — Montgomery County police are dramatically expanding the use of automatic license plate reader technology across the county, with new state records showing the department generated more than 93 million plate scans last year alone as officials tout the systems as a key crime-fighting tool.
The new Maryland filing shows the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) now operates nearly 800 automatic license plate reader units, or ALPRs, across the county.
According to the report, MCPD recorded approximately 93.2 million plate reads in 2024 — a sharp increase from roughly 52.3 million scans in 2023.
The report shows that those cameras captured nearly 110 million plate reads in 2025. County leaders say the technology is helping investigators crack down on carjackings, auto thefts, violent repeat offenders, and so-called “ghost tag” vehicles using fake or fraudulent temporary registrations.
Modern ALPR systems can do far more than simply capture a license plate number. Newer systems can identify what some law enforcement agencies describe as vehicle “fingerprints,” including make, model, color, decals, damage, bumper stickers, roof racks, and temporary tags — helping investigators track vehicles even when plates are missing, altered, or obscured.
Officials point to several high-profile investigations where the technology played a major role.
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In one recent Maryland-linked homicide case, investigators used automatic license plate readers to track a suspect vehicle from Maryland into Virginia following a deadly shooting. Authorities say Dayton James Webber, a 27-year-old quadruple amputee and professional cornhole player, was charged with first-degree murder by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office after a fatal shooting in La Plata.
According to investigators, witnesses flagged down police after escaping the suspect’s vehicle. Detectives later used license plate reader technology to locate Webber’s vehicle in Charlottesville, Virginia. Authorities say he was eventually arrested by the Albemarle County Police Department at a hospital before being extradited back to Maryland. Court records show a judge denied bond, citing concerns that Webber fled the state after the shooting.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich defended the growing use of ALPR technology during a recent briefing, arguing the systems are helping police intervene before crimes escalate.
“I cannot say enough about the benefit of the automatic license plate reader,” Elrich said. “The ability to get hits on vehicles as they enter the county if they cross in front of a police car which identifies a stolen vehicle. At that point is key to preventing what is likely going to be a crime.”
County leaders say Montgomery County also has more than 2,000 community-registered cameras tied into public safety programs designed to assist investigators searching for stolen vehicles and missing persons. Elrich said the systems have generated millions of investigative hits this year. Assistant Police Chief Darren Francke says the county has recently seen an uptick in auto theft activity, as police continue expanding technology-based enforcement efforts aimed at identifying stolen vehicles and repeat offenders more quickly.
Still, the expansion is drawing criticism from privacy advocates nationwide who warn that the systems can create detailed travel histories for drivers and raise concerns about long-term surveillance and data retention.
Civil liberties groups have questioned how long plate-reader data is stored, who has access to it, and whether innocent drivers are being tracked without their knowledge.
Despite those concerns, Montgomery County leaders say the technology is becoming an increasingly important part of modern policing as departments across the region battle organized auto theft rings and violent crimes tied to stolen vehicles.
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