Wayne council authorizes permitting step for Flock Safety license-plate cameras after privacy concerns

The Wayne City Council on Sept. 2 approved a resolution authorizing Flock Safety to begin the permitting process, including coordination with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), to install previously approved ‘‘flat’’ license‑plate cameras in local rights‑of‑way.

The council’s vote, moved by Councilmember Quarles and supported by Councilmember Lawrence, carried on a voice vote after a presentation from the police chief and questions from council members and members of the public.

The resolution does not itself place cameras on streets; it authorizes the company and the city to pursue the permits required by the state, county and city for cameras placed in rights‑of‑way. The police chief told council that some camera locations fall in Wayne County or MDOT rights‑of‑way and that the permitting process can take time. He said the resolution allows Flock Safety to enter the necessary agreements with MDOT as part of that permitting step.

The police chief described the cameras’ operational role as limited to capturing images of license plates and using those images to locate vehicles that are stolen or linked to crimes. "Flock cameras take pictures of a license plate in the vehicles. I'm confident no one is going to get arrested for having recycling inside their vehicles," he said, adding that neighboring Western Wayne County communities including Romulus, Van Buren, Westland and Dearborn already use the system and that it helped a neighboring department identify a homicide suspect within minutes.

During public comment, resident Nancy Pride raised privacy objections and asked whether the cameras could photograph a vehicle’s interior. "When it's starting to take pictures of me and my license plate without my permission ... I've heard ... they can take pictures of the interior of your car," she said. She said she sees tinted windows and worries about people being misidentified if interior images were used.

A council member asked whether images would be used for traffic enforcement. The chief replied that the system is not used for traffic tickets: "The cameras strictly take photos of license plates and vehicles to look for vehicles that are either stolen or wanted in a crime ... They're not used for traffic enforcement."

Council discussion also noted regional interoperability: Councilmember Dowd said the cameras benefit neighboring communities and can help track vehicles that move between jurisdictions. Dowd referenced broader post‑9/11 changes to law and practice when discussing civil‑liberties tradeoffs.

The resolution passed; council did not set installation dates at the meeting. Next steps described on the record are the standard permitting and rights‑of‑way approvals with Wayne County and MDOT before physical installation would begin.

The measure prompted both support from law‑enforcement presenters and privacy concerns from residents. The city’s approvals at this stage are procedural: explicit placement and activation of individual cameras will depend on subsequent permits and agreements.