I’m Alek Schott. I’m a father, a husband, and a law-abiding American—and I was subjected to unconstitutional government surveillance.

I am working with the Institute for Justice to demand an end to warrantless license plate tracking.

Because of my job, I regularly drive to South Texas, home to one of the world’s largest oil fields. These trips are routine and lawful.

One day, while driving home on I-35 near San Antonio, I was pulled over by a Bexar County sheriff’s deputy for allegedly drifting across the fog line. What began as an unlawful traffic stop quickly devolved into an unconstitutional fishing expedition. I was stopped, detained, and interrogated—not because of my driving, but because government agencies were tracking my movements using automated license plate readers, or ALPRs.

Every day, police and government agencies across America use specialized surveillance cameras to track millions of innocent people. These cameras use AI to record a vehicle’s location, date, and time, creating travel histories that can reveal where you work, who you visit, what church you attend, or which doctor you see. This data is collected without consent, stored in a database for weeks or more, and often accessed without a warrant.

An Associated Press investigation exposed how widespread and dangerous this surveillance has become. It revealed that agencies monitor millions of law-abiding Americans and flag drivers based on vague “suspicious” travel patterns. My case was highlighted as a clear example of how easily this technology can be abused.

The Fourth Amendment must protect our everyday movements. Just as police need a warrant to search your home or read your emails, they should need a warrant approved by a judge to access your driving history.

That’s why I’m calling on lawmakers to require a warrant before government agencies can access ALPR data. This safeguard would protect public safety while restoring our fundamental right to privacy.

Technology should support safety—not turn ordinary Americans into surveillance targets. Our privacy must not be collateral damage in the digital age. Please sign this petition and demand a warrant.