The fastest way to improve local accountability is to move from rumor to records. Start by identifying the public body that approved the system, then build a timeline from meeting agendas, procurement documents, policies, contracts, renewals, and audits.
Build the public record
- Search city council, county board, police commission, and procurement agendas for “Flock,” “ALPR,” “LPR,” “license plate reader,” and “vehicle recognition.”
- Request the signed contract, amendments, renewal dates, invoices, funding source, camera quantity, and location list where disclosure is lawful.
- Request the agency’s ALPR use policy, retention setting, hotlist policy, search-approval rules, audit procedures, and data-sharing agreements.
- Ask for aggregate search counts, outside-agency access counts, misuse findings, disciplinary records, and false-alert correction procedures, subject to applicable exemptions.
- Compare what officials said in public meetings with the signed contract and current policy.
Ask for measurable safeguards
- A written purpose limitation.
- A short, published retention period.
- Role-based access and mandatory search justification.
- Independent, recurring audit review.
- Public reporting of aggregate searches, sharing, hits, errors, and misuse.
- A clear complaint and correction process.
- Public approval before renewal, expansion, or material policy changes.
Use precise language
Separate documented camera locations from contract quantities, active devices, plate reads, alerts, searches, and criminal cases. Those are different measurements. Precise claims are harder to dismiss and easier for journalists, officials, and residents to verify.
Keep it lawful
Document, request, speak, organize, vote, and advocate peacefully. Do not damage equipment, obstruct roadways, trespass, harass workers, or use unsafe or unlawful plate-obscuring devices. Flock Off sells expression—not evasion.