The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal announced on September 18, 2026 that it has acquired four new cameras designed to capture the license‑plate numbers of vehicles as they travel past. The purchase was recorded at 15:20:36 GMT and adds to the city’s existing surveillance tools.
The devices are described as being similar to the systems employed by the technology firm Flock, which also uses automated license‑plate recognition (ALR) hardware. Each unit is capable of scanning passing traffic and storing the alphanumeric identifiers displayed on vehicle plates. The SPVM indicated that the cameras will be installed at selected locations throughout Montreal, though specific sites were not disclosed at the time of the announcement.
The introduction of the ALR cameras has generated discussion because of the data they collect. Critics label the technology as controversial, citing concerns that the recording of license‑plate information may raise privacy issues for motorists. The police service acknowledged the sensitivity of the data but did not elaborate on how the information will be managed or retained.
No further details regarding the intended operational purpose of the four cameras were provided. The SPVM confirmed that the equipment is now part of its asset inventory and will be integrated into existing monitoring frameworks. The acquisition follows a broader trend of municipalities exploring automated vehicle identification tools for traffic enforcement and public safety objectives.
The city has not released a timeline for when the cameras will become operational, and officials have not indicated whether additional units may be added in the future. The public will be informed of any changes in policy or deployment as the police service proceeds with implementation.