Bay City Commission rejects Flock license-plate reader contract after ACLU and months of public debate

The Bay City City Commission on Nov. 17 declined to approve a two-year contract with Flock Group Inc., the company that provides automated license-plate readers (ALPRs), after an evening of expert presentations, lengthy commissioner questioning and sustained public opposition.

The most immediate decision at the meeting was the commission’s failure to approve the contract, which the city manager had recommended at $45,150 for fiscal 2026 and $39,000 for fiscal 2027. The motion to adopt the contract passed only two votes (Commissioners Morris and Zanotti) and failed on a 2–6 roll call. Several commissioners cited a lack of community buy-in, legal and privacy concerns, and unresolved questions about data sharing and vendor obligations.

The ACLU’s Gabriel Dresner, appearing by Zoom, opened the evening’s policy discussion by warning that ALPRs “are a little-noticed surveillance technology that’s designed to track the movements of passing drivers,” and urged the commission to adopt a robust local policy if the city proceeds with procurement. Dresner emphasized that, without state law, local policy must set limits on retention, access and sharing. “If LPR systems are procured, policy must be adopted to ensure proper protections,” he said.

Flock representatives, including Mike Lampman, presented the vendor’s view that the…