Junction City Pauses License Plate Tech | Portland News

Portland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 13, 2026 · 1m

Junction City has paused its plan to install automatic license plate readers, delaying the decision until next spring’s budget cycle amid heated debate over privacy, Fourth Amendment rights, and fiscal responsibility. While some saw parallels to big-box store tech, council members cited tight finances and the need for public input. Critics called the tech “dystopian,” citing past controversies—like Eugene’s termination of a similar contract after federal immigration access concerns—and Flock’s recent changes, including restricting federal lookups. Alternatives like Axon are now on the table…