License Plate Readers Back and Forth

On July 30th, Sheriff Norris attended the County Commissioners’ budget meeting asking the commissioners to reconsider last weeks vote denying funding for the 2026 budget for the Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs).for the sheriff's department.

During the budget meeting Norris continued that he had spoken with Marc Eberlein and Eberlein now supports the ALPRs, Eberlein has consistently voted against funding the ALPRs during several previous ALPRs budget votes in 2025 and in 2026. Not only did Eberlein vote against the ALPRs every single time; but after every vote he would publicly state that he was against a surveillance state.

Now that we know the bigger picture with Palantir and Palantir-Gotham, the surveillance company owned by Peter Thiel and contracted with our government to collect, consolidate, and store all of our personal data, why would any of our elected officials be backing warrantless surveillance? This is not a rumor. This is all being built in real time. Currently Kuna, Idaho has completed one data collection center and a second was just approved by the Kuna City Council. Shouldn't we be even more concerned about inviting any type of surveillance system into our communities? Our constitution does not state that we are entitled to freedoms and rights UNLESS it is for our SAFETY.

Our County Commissioners need to hear from you. Let them know that our freedom is not for sale.. Remember anyone willing to give up their freedom for safety will lose both. Keep it simply merely stating you do not consent to this warrantless surveillance.

Please email the County Commissioners at:

1. Leslie Duncan lduncan@kcgov.us

2. Marc Eberlein meberlein@kcgov.us

3. Bruce Mattare bmattare@kcgov.us