If you're curious where many of the Automated License Plate Readers are located, this site is interesting. The collection is certainly not limited to areas near the southern border.

https://deflock.me/map

This is a simple regression to the old days when they could just make up BS and not something that represents a perceived increase in threat level to anyone who was already jaded.

It has nothing to do with surveillance and everything to do with the fact that there are no consequences for the agencies and individuals involved. And this isn't just a cops problem. Just about every department that can make money fining people gets caught violating rights or otherwise playing dirty in some capacity at some point

In other words, big brother (Border patrol/DEA) use surveillance to fence generic "yellow flags" to little brother (local cops) who pull over drivers.

Is this just a Texas thing due to border vicinity?

I assume Big Brother hasn't published results data, but I'm curious whether the results are performing and catching bad guys. The article's sample appears to show a false positive.

Brazen 4th amendment violation

I don't remember if I'm paraphrasing it correctly, but "Words on paper don't stop boots on the ground."

This is going to continue until there are actual physical consequences instead of abstract limitations of abstract authority.