The Swiss Federal Court has struck down the automated vehicle surveillance law in the canton of Lucerne, a decision that affects similar legislations in various cantons. The court ruled that cantonal authorities lack the legislative power to regulate such surveillance, which must instead be addressed at the federal level. This landmark ruling not only halts the use of automatic license plate recognition to track stolen vehicles and fugitives but also casts doubt on a proposed inter-cantonal police data exchange platform, raising concerns over the efficacy of crime investigations across Switzerland.