PART 2: Police License Plate Recognition Technology Program

Flock Safety website

In the 8/5/24 meeting Council approved funds to implement the "Flock" license plate reader program.

THE PROGRAM:   Strategically located intersections are identified within the City to place the "Flock" cameras to capture the most license plates entering and leaving the City limits.    Councilmember Fields made a point to say the program will not infringe on people's privacy. 

The concept of this approach is for officers and dispatchers to be alerted whenever a “Wanted” or “Hot List” vehicle or vehicle used in the commission of a crime is captured on a Flock camera. Officers will respond to the area and look for the vehicle based on the last known location. Vehicles typically placed on “Hot Lists” include stolen vehicles, wanted persons connected to vehicles, and missing persons. 

Whether responding to a crime in-progress or investigating a past crime, Flock camera technology can locate vehicles based on a description of the vehicle without needing the license plate number. For example, a vehicle involved in a crime described as a red sports car with a spoiler can be entered into the search parameters. Using just that information, the Flock cameras will locate all vehicles matching that description and provide information concerning location, direction of travel, and license plate number.

Flock cameras have nothing to do with citizen habits of every day driving.  They will be used exclusively to reduce auto thefts and other crimes. 

-- excerpt from Regular meeting memo, 8/5 

Flock Safety is an American manufacturer and operator of automated license plate recognition, video surveillance, and gunfire locator systems. Wikipedia