Florida has passed legislation that effectively outlaws devices designed to evade automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems, even if those devices don’t visibly obstruct a plate to the human eye. The new law targets any mechanism—manual, electronic, or mechanical—that interferes with a plate’s legibility, detectability, or recording ability. This means a minimalist decal created by musician and engineer Benn Jordan could now land drivers in jail.
How the System Works… And How It Can Be Fooled
ALPR cameras are ubiquitous, mounted on police vehicles and infrastructure across the US. The Jordan decal exploits a weakness in how these systems’ AI classifies images. The device, a plate sticker with strategically placed dots, doesn’t obscure the plate’s appearance to humans. The numbers, letters, and layout remain perfectly readable. However, the dots confuse machine-learning models, often causing them to misclassify the plate entirely and skip recording it.
“Florida has effectively criminalized tools that challenge surveillance infrastructure, even when they don’t prevent a human from identifying a vehicle.” — Louis Rossmann, repair-rights advocate.
The Law’s Broad Scope
The law doesn’t distinguish between intentional obstruction and unintentional interference with recording systems. This means even if a driver isn’t actively trying to evade law enforcement, simply using a tool that disrupts the AI’s image recognition could result in legal consequences. Critics argue the legislation prioritizes the protection of surveillance infrastructure over intent, harm, or human legibility.
Implications and Concerns
The case highlights the growing tension between surveillance technology and privacy. As ALPR systems become more prevalent, methods to evade them will likely proliferate. The broad wording of Florida’s law sets a precedent that could criminalize even benign attempts to test or challenge these systems. The key takeaway is that in Florida, the AI’s perception of your license plate now matters more than whether a human can read it.
The legal line has been drawn not by human judgment, but by algorithms.
