That fact that in the UK or China you are surveiled non-stop it does not mean Americans want the same to happen to them.
Google national ANPR [country]
I like how you're so nuanced when I'm pretty sure you never heard the acronym ANPR before
Using your exact suggested query for Germany will quickly tell you that mass retention of ANPR data is illegal, and only matching against "targeted suspect databases" is acceptable. Even usages of the technology in private areas have to comply with data protection rules.