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Police explain purpose and retention for FLOOW camera network; not used for distracted-driver surveillance in Minnetrista
Summary
Chief Craig Squires told council FLOW cameras in Minnetrista record license plates to help locate stolen vehicles or missing persons, retain data 30 days and are audited biennially; the city does not operate distracted-driving cameras within city limits.
Minnetrista Police Chief Craig Squires addressed council questions on May 19 about roadside cameras and how the city uses recorded images.
Chief Squires said the city—s FLOOW (FLOW) camera system records license plates and retains recorded data for 30 days; the system is audited every two years. "It's retained for 30 days. It is audited every 2 years," Squires said. "If we did have a crime in the area, then we could go back and see what was coming and going at that time."
Squires and councilors clarified that the FLOW cameras in Minnetrista are used to record plates (for stolen-vehicle or missing-person checks and to aid investigations) and are not recording inside vehicle interiors. He said distracted-driving camera programs that monitor driver behavior are being used in other jurisdictions (noting Southlake/Minnetonka area examples) and that Minnetrista does not operate distracted-driving systems at this time.
Council members asked whether recorded plate data can be subpoenaed in civil cases; Squires said he was not sure and staff would follow up on legal-access questions.
Why it matters: As municipalities adopt automated-plate-reading (APR) or camera systems, residents seek clarity on privacy, retention and operational purpose. Minnetrista officials said the system is scoped to public-safety uses and short-term retention.
