How to file an ALPR open record request

One way to find out is to submit a written open records request. In Iowa, cities, counties, and even public universities have contracts with companies that provide ALPRs and the accompanying software and databases.

You can get information on your local ALPRs from your city government, county government, or local public university.

The University of Iowa Technology Clinic and ACLU of Iowa sent off 48 of these open records requests in the Fall of 2025, resulting in a report of our findings.

But any member of the public can submit an open records request. If you're interested in submitting one, here's how to do it:

1. First, make sure that we don't already have the records. You can review our online folder with files for each community that responded to our open records request for the report.

2. Then familiarize yourself with how to submit an open records request in Iowa. Some fees may be incurred to cover staff time but they should be "reasonable." (Please let us know if they are not!).

Here are some instructions from the Iowa Public Information Board.

You can find additional information in this Open Records Handbook under the section on Chapter 22, which is the name of Iowa's open records law. If possible, send the request to the open records "custodian" for the agency or office you are seeking the records from. To find out who that is, you will likely need to call and get the name and contact information.

3. You are welcome to adapt the letter we sent to Iowa law enforcement agencies for our report for your own request. You can view it here.

And please consider sharing your findings with us to help us add to our resources to share publicly! You can email us at outreach@aclu-ia.org.