Bruh, the police "security" from abuse for using ALPR is you need a reason to search.
Not an actual case / file# ..... just a reason.
So a lot of these cops put "active case" as the reason. So then the department has to spend resources to prove that it wasn't, as a reason to justify discipline to the union. Someone else has to verify if every search was (in)valid.
And in that time the cop can just "retire" and get hired somewhere else nearby.