Flock-style ALPR systems are general warrants.
Otis argued Paxton's Case in Boston in 1761. His objection was that the writ (warrant) named no suspect, no place, and no crime. It was standing authority to rummage.
That's the Isaacs search. Nobody asked where Lindsey Isaacs had been. They asked which Durangos were near a crash, and she came back.
Location first. Suspect second. That's the structure Otis was describing.
And read the rest of what he said. The writ places the liberty of every man in the hands of every petty officer, and any man prompted by revenge, ill humor, or wantonness could get one.
Revenge, ill humor, wantonness.
A Kansas police chief ran his ex 164 times. A Florida officer ran his estranged wife 717 times over 21 months. A Colleton County deputy racked up nearly 2,700 unauthorized searches.
Otis wasn't speculating. He was describing people.
Three days in solitary for a woman whose car had no damage on it, while four pieces of evidence pointing the other way sat in the file.
That's the reason the Fourth Amendment was drafted.