Driver wins $76 after ALPR led to bogus traffic stop, drug searches
A federal jury in Texas awarded Alek Schott $76 in a civil lawsuit against Bexar County Sheriff's Office after he was subjected to a bogus traffic stop and warrantless vehicle search. The stop was enabled by an AI-powered licence plate reader that flagged his truck for making a seemingly suspicious "one-day turnaround" trip from Houston to Carrizo Springs and back. Deputy Joel Babb fabricated a "lane drifting" violation as the stated reason for the stop, when the actual basis was intelligence from a federal fusion centre worker who monitored the ALPR data and tipped him off via WhatsApp.
The 76-minute detention resulted in extensive searches and a drug dog alert that appeared staged, according to bodycam footage reviewed during the case. Nothing was found, yet the sheriff's office initially dismissed Schott's formal complaint and suggested he sue if he disagreed. Schott requested the symbolic $76 compensation ($1 per minute detained) rather than a larger sum. The Institute for Justice, which supported his lawsuit, says this case exemplifies how mass surveillance at street level can enable warrantless searches, and plans to seek an injunction against such baseless stops across Texas.
- Driver won $76 after Bexar County fabricated a traffic stop for warrantless search.
- ALPR flagged routine work trip; fusion centre worker tipped off deputy via WhatsApp.
- Case highlights concerns about using surveillance technology to justify baseless vehicle stops.
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Cameras that automatically record vehicle registration plates are increasingly used by police. One such camera flagged Alek Schott's truck after he made a quick trip from Houston to Carrizo Springs and back. Police used this information to stop and search his vehicle.
When pulled over, the deputy claimed Schott's truck had drifted between lanes, a traffic violation, but bodycam footage showed this was not the true reason for the stop. The officer had actually been informed about Schott's journey through the licence plate reader system. Schott was detained for over an hour whilst his vehicle was searched and a drug detection dog was used, but nothing was found.
A federal court awarded Schott $76 in damages—one dollar per minute of detention—in a lawsuit against Bexar County Sheriff's Office. His legal team argues the case shows how automatic licence plate readers can facilitate stops and searches lacking proper legal justification. The case raises questions about how such surveillance technology should be regulated and monitored.