(haipo) – The Privacy Protection Authority at the Ministry of Justice issued today, 4/26/26, a significant clarification to local authorities across the country, stating that they do not have the legal authority to use cameras based on license plate recognition (LPR) for the purpose of enforcing parking violations.
The clarification comes following a ruling issued in December 2025 by the District Court, as part of an administrative petition (Court No. 12825-12-24 Cypher Place Ltd. v. Ramat Gan Municipality). In the ruling, the court accepted the state's position, and unequivocally determined that the use of LPR technology for parking enforcement is illegal in the absence of express authorization in legislation.
Violation of privacy and wide scope of information
According to the state's position, as presented in court, the very use of LPR cameras raises a real concern for privacy violations. These cameras are capable of automatically recognizing license plates, storing the information captured, and even cross-referencing with additional databases held by the authorities.
Furthermore, this is a technology that enables data processing on a wide scale, including drawing conclusions about vehicle movement, their location over time, and sometimes even about the movement habits and activities of the vehicle owners themselves. The Privacy Protection Authority emphasizes that this involves the collection of sensitive personal information, which can paint a detailed picture of a person's life, without clear legal authorization.
Prohibited harm and grounds for compensation
In a clarification published by the Authority, it was determined that the use of LPR cameras for parking enforcement, without explicit legal backing, constitutes an unlawful violation of privacy and may even be considered a civil tort. This means that citizens who are harmed by such use may be entitled to compensation even without proving that they have actually suffered harm. In addition, use of information collected through these means may constitute a violation of the provisions of the Privacy Protection Law, which prohibits the use of personal information collected unlawfully.
The Authority clarified that in appropriate cases, they will not hesitate to exercise the enforcement powers at their disposal against local authorities that act in violation of the instructions.
And what is happening in Haifa?
As of today, the city of Haifa does not use LPR cameras to enforce parking violations. This means that the municipality does not operate automatic license plate recognition systems in this context, and enforcement is carried out by other means, in accordance with the law.
The Privacy Protection Authority's clarification sets a clear limit on the use of advanced technologies by local authorities, and emphasizes the need to strike a balance between enforcement efficiency and the protection of fundamental rights, primarily the right to privacy.
Now, should local authorities seek to use similar measures in the future, they will have to wait for an explicit legislative regulation that will define the required conditions, limitations, and supervision.
😍👀"Cameras" all over the city =
IS NEEDED & IT MUST
Because, since the outbreak of the "war" on all fronts...; the "metropolitan front" has also experienced a rising "crime"! Flooding! Rampant! Filling the entire city in all its ugliest forms, endangering "public safety" and even severely harming the "quality of life" in Beautiful Haifa😭
The "Haifa Municipality" is "responsible" for installing "cameras" throughout the city, as "crime" is rising! Flooding! & foaming!!!😭😭😭
Don't say: "We didn't see" & "We didn't hear"! "We didn't know" like "The 3 Monkeys"…!!!@@@😭😭😭
And the "Israel Police" must wake up from its "sleep" and/or "coma", because they know and know very well the generallll
Isn't parking in "30 Minutes to Move" parking lots enforced with cameras like these?
Are you sure? Check again.
Tell that to the person who double parks next to a giraffe.
liars
Enforcement?
Vanity, foolishness and evil spirits.
Visit Nashel on Moriah Blvd., across from AMPM, on President Blvd. near Giraffe, and on Tchernichovsky Blvd. near House 14.
They park unobstructed near yellow/red curbs [bus stops], sometimes double parking, making it difficult to get on and off the bus.
More than once, a yellow/light blue municipal inspection vehicle passes by and passes by in utter apathy without any activity.
The claim that Haifa does not have camera-based enforcement that identifies the number is puzzling.
A decade ago, I received a parking ticket in Kiryat Sefer Square based on a camera that recognized the vehicle's license plate.
Despite the law that allows goods to be unloaded until 10:30 on Schlossberg Street in B. Schprinz, goods are unloaded at all hours of the day, and what's worse is that the street is not enforced when there are red and white markings, which sometimes means that fire trucks and ambulances cannot provide assistance.