Residents and commissioners debate Flock ALPR cameras’ privacy and cost implications

A member of the public and multiple county commissioners pressed the Lapeer County Board of Commissioners to reconsider adopting Flock automatic license‑plate reader (ALPR) cameras, citing privacy concerns, pending litigation and potential operational costs.

Jennifer Van Damme of Dryden Township told the board the matter before the full board in January could expose the county to constitutional and financial risk. She cited ongoing litigation (Schmidt v. City of Norfolk) challenging municipal ALPR systems, referenced Carpenter v. United States and State v. Jones as precedent addressing privacy expectations, and urged the commission to "drop the Flock camera." Van Damme warned that implementing a system and then facing prohibitions in court could be financially imprudent.

Commissioner Scott McMahon said the system is a "powerful law enforcement tool" but raised concerns about data-sharing and oversight. "It's shared with state police, it's shared with FBI... We have no ability to know what they're even doing with it," McMahon said, and he warned of ongoing costs including FOIA fulfillment and an initial setup cost he described as "almost $200,000." He said the county should weigh whether potential safety benefits justify privacy trade-offs and legal uncertainty.

Commissioner Sanders urged residents to consult police officers who have used the technology and highlighted its operational benefits. Commissioners discussed that courts in various jurisdictions have reached different results on ALPR legality and that the county should examine recent legal opinions and likely FOIA obligations before committing.

No final decision on Flock ALPR adoption was made at the meeting; commissioners asked staff for legal information and noted the matter will proceed for further consideration at a future meeting.