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Lapeer Commission delays decision on Flock ALPR camera system after privacy concerns
Summary
After public comment citing Fourth Amendment and out-of-state litigation, the commission voted to postpone action on a proposed Flock automated license-plate reader (ALPR) camera system until its next regular meeting on Sept. 15.
The Lapeer City Commission voted Sept. 2 to postpone action on a proposed Flock automated license-plate reader camera system after public comments raised privacy and constitutional concerns.
Public commenter Jennifer Van Dam, who identified herself as a Lapeer County resident, urged the commission to reconsider blanket camera deployment and cited Fourth Amendment concerns and an ongoing lawsuit challenging a similar program in Norfolk, Va. "The Fourth Amendment requires a warrant as a precondition to a search," Van Dam told commissioners, quoting language from court filings and civil-rights commentary about ALPR systems. She referenced Schmidt v. City of Norfolk, an October 2024 federal suit alleging mass surveillance through AI-equipped ALPR cameras.
Commissioner Glisman moved to postpone consideration of the camera system; Commissioner Petrie seconded the motion. The motion to postpone to the commission's next regular meeting on Sept. 15 passed on voice vote.
Commission discussion during the item indicated the city attorney has reviewed similar contract language elsewhere and has a redline copy of an agreement the attorney worked on for another community. Commissioners said they wanted to "cross our t's and dot our i's" and proceed slowly. No final contract was approved or rejected at the meeting.
The City of Lapeer did not adopt any policy, contract, or deployment schedule for ALPR cameras at the Sept. 2 meeting. The next step set by the commission is a return of the item to the Sept. 15 agenda for further review and potential action.
The item drew public comment prior to the agenda vote and a request by at least one commissioner to allow additional time for the city attorney to present recommended contract edits and for commissioners to review them before any vote.
What happened: The commission postponed consideration of the Flock ALPR camera system until Sept. 15; no contract was signed and no deployment timeline was set.
