Montreal police removed an automated license plate reader from Boulevard Henri-Bourassa on Wednesday, Aug. 12 [1].
The removal follows public controversy regarding the use of high-tech surveillance tools in residential areas. The incident highlights a growing tension between police investigative needs and privacy rights in Quebec.
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) installed the Flock-type camera in the Rivière-des-Prairies neighborhood earlier this month [2]. The device was designed to automatically capture and read vehicle license plates as they passed through the area [3].
Reports on the purpose of the installation vary. Radio-Canada said the SPVM deployed the camera specifically to assist with an active police investigation [2]. However, La Presse said the device was a controversial automated reader that sparked backlash before its removal [3].
The camera remained operational for a short period in early August before officials decided to take it down [2]. The SPVM has not provided detailed public justification for the specific location choice on Boulevard Henri-Bourassa, though the equipment is typically used to track vehicles of interest in criminal cases [2].
The dismantling of the hardware on Aug. 12 [1] marks the end of this specific deployment, but the debate over automated license plate readers continues to surface as urban police departments seek more efficient ways to monitor traffic, and crime.
“Montreal police removed an automated license plate reader from Boulevard Henri-Bourassa on Wednesday, Aug. 12.”
The rapid installation and removal of the camera suggest a lack of established public consensus or clear regulatory frameworks for automated license plate readers (ALPRs) in Montreal. While police view these tools as essential for modern investigations, the controversy indicates that the SPVM may face increased scrutiny over the transparency of its surveillance deployments in residential neighborhoods.
