Margate approves license for ALPR cameras after residents raise privacy concerns

The City Commission voted to approve a revocable license agreement allowing the placement of Flock automated license-plate reader (ALPR) cameras in Broward County right-of-way to provide data to the Margate Police Department.

During public comment, residents urged caution and questioned privacy and constitutional implications. Jonathan Krawcheck told the commission he had requested item 6b be pulled and argued the cameras implicate Fourth Amendment issues, asking the city to discontinue use: “I encourage the city to discontinue the use of Flock cameras due to their Fourth Amendment implications,” he said, citing Supreme Court decisions by name.

City legal staff and a partner at the firm replied that recording vehicle license plates on a public road is not a constitutionally protected search. The city attorney said, “Taking a photograph of your car and license plate while driving on a public road is not a search,” and explained that the license agreement before the commission was limited to placement of previously approved cameras in county right-of-way.

Commissioners discussed both civil-liberty concerns and public-safety benefits, with some members noting the technology had been used to assist investigations and locate endangered persons. After the discussion, the commission approved the resolution on roll-call vote.

The approval authorizes the city to place previously approved Flock cameras in county right-of-way under a license; data-handling details and the operational agreement with the vendor were not amended at the meeting and remain governed by the city greement with Flock.