Drivers Beware: The End of Flock Safety Didn't Mean the End of License Plate Tracking Cameras in Seven Municipalities

Despite Flock Safety's withdrawal from numerous U.S. municipalities in 2026, at least seven cities are continuing to utilize license plate tracking camera technology. Nationwide, approximately 56 municipalities have either halted or rejected contracts with Flock Safety, according to the national organization DeFlock. These decisions encompass deactivating devices, canceling agreements, or refusing new contracts. In some instances, such as Richmond, California, initial deactivations were reversed when the City Council approved a contract extension. Flock Safety's extensive network reportedly comprises over 120,000 cameras deployed across 49 states. The company claims its system processes more than 20 billion vehicle records each month, facilitating inter-jurisdictional investigations. Law enforcement agencies utilize this technology to recover stolen vehicles, locate missing persons, and investigate crimes. The system records vehicle details including make, model, color, and license plate, with algorithms capable of identifying unique features like stickers and scratches. However, concerns regarding privacy and data access persist. Civil liberties organizations, including the ACLU, highlight that police queries may not require a judicial warrant. They also point out that the system collects data on individuals not suspected of any wrongdoing. Reports indicate instances where the technology was allegedly used for personal surveillance, and data has been accessed by federal immigration authorities. The ACLU notes that less than 1% of vehicles registered in March 2026 in Norfolk, Virginia, were linked to a crime, and that the system misidentifies the state of origin for license plates in one out of ten records. Localities can share data with various agencies, ranging from state departments to national networks, raising further questions about data proliferation and oversight.

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The ACLU explained that the system registers the brand, model, color, and plate of each automobile. The algorithm can also identify stickers and scratches.