It is true now. Fifty years ago, not so much. The first crackdown on chemicals was - I think but could be wrong - the precursors for quaalude manufacturing…it came even before the US got serious about drunk driving…around 1982.

Oklahoma City made explosive precursors an area of concern, but meth precursors are a 21st century prohibition/restriction.

Anyway, your local police are likely to have live access to security cameras in area businesses in addition to real time license plate readers in cruisers.