· Appleton, WI · Ban
Appleton, Wisconsin council votes 11-1 to ban most city use of license plate readers
The Appleton Common Council on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, approved Resolution #16-R-26 in an 11-1 vote, prohibiting the city from acquiring, installing, operating, using or funding automatic license plate readers (NBC 26). Exceptions remain for parking enforcement, access control for restricted nonpublic areas and weigh stations for commercial vehicles (NBC 26; Appleton Legistar). Fourteen people spoke on the resolution, all in favor (NBC 26). Appleton stopped using its Flock cameras on June 30 and later voted to terminate its Flock contract (WBAY). Alderpersons are still working on a separate resolution setting guardrails for surveillance technology more broadly (NBC 26).
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