The key point is there are 3 levels of cameras (that in the US right now ALL get called "automatic license plate readers") which have different levels of acceptability, and tons of localities are choosing the worst possible level for this but justifying it with the best level. Motte & bailey at work
The Recurring Speed Camera Discourse is a bit exasperating really because, look, we all know what's actually happening is people just want to be able to commit the pertinent crimes and don't like being punished for it, but people come up with obvious post-hoc pseudo-woke rationalisations for this.