Residents urge strict limits on cloud-based license-plate readers; county commissioner, councilmembers weigh benefits

Bridal Paulson, a New Prague resident, told the City Council on Jan. 20 that the proposed Flock Safety cameras and their searchable, cloud‑stored database raise privacy and security concerns for ordinary residents.

“Camera can be used and installed, and tape can be reviewed without the flock tracking and cloud database,” Paulson said, warning that the system’s commercial features can be used to “find out who’s friends with who” and citing an instance in Sedgwick, Kansas, in which a police chief used Flock Safety license‑plate reader data to track an individual repeatedly.

The comments came during the council’s public‑comment period and followed earlier council discussion that the city has received a grant to implement cameras intended for vandalism and park safety. The council said staff will draft a camera‑use policy that addresses data access, retention and permitted uses.

Why it matters: Residents pressed the council for clear limits on how long…