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Masses of towns end Flock Safety ALPR contracts in 2026

9/10/2026

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States Halt ALPRs

In September 2026, municipalities in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and other states suspended or ended contracts for Flock Safety automated license-plate-reader cameras.
Massachusetts legislators approved driver-privacy bill H 3755 unanimously, signaling a legislative push against ALPR misuse.
Scott Bohn, Pennsylvania police chiefs association head, defended ALPRs and opposed a blanket ban.
Chandler, Arizona, shut down its 40 cameras after an officer admitted tracking a family member.

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States Suspend ALPRs

In September 2026, municipalities in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and other states announced suspending or terminating Flock Safety automated license-plate-reader contracts.
Critics say the cameras police minor offenses and surveil homeless and Black residents, raising civil-rights and accountability concerns.
Georgia officers were arrested after using thousands of Flock searches to track an ex-girlfriend’s vehicle.
Kentucky House Bill 58 caps ALPR data retention at 90 days and makes misuse misdemeanor.

History

Historical Context

The Driver’s Privacy Protection Act, signed in September 1994 after Rep. Jim Moran’s 1992 push following the 1989 Rebecca Schaeffer murder, barred commercial use of DMV data. By 2015 the ACLU counted over 2,000 ALPR cameras in 30 jurisdictions, and in September 2026 Arizona, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts officials sued Flock Safety, citing the DPPA and urging limits such as Kentucky’s 90-day retention rule.

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States Halt ALPRs

In September 2026, municipalities in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and other states suspended or ended contracts for Flock Safety automated license-plate-reader cameras.
Massachusetts legislators approved driver-privacy bill H 3755 unanimously, signaling a legislative push against ALPR misuse.
Scott Bohn, Pennsylvania police chiefs association head, defended ALPRs and opposed a blanket ban.
Chandler, Arizona, shut down its 40 cameras after an officer admitted tracking a family member.

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