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Council directs staff to brief on homelessness response, ALPR data-security and vape sales
Summary
Council voted to add three public-comment topics to future agendas: an update on homelessness and shelter options, a presentation on Flock Safety automated license-plate readers and data security, and consideration of ordinances and enforcement options on vape and tobacco sales to persons under 21.
The Lynchburg City Council voted to place three public-comment items on future agendas for staff briefings or presentations after public commenters requested follow-up on homelessness, automated license-plate reader (ALPR) security, and vape/tobacco sales to minors.
A councilmember moved to refer the three items for future agendas: an update on homelessness and shelter options raised by Sarah Bonner; a presentation on ALPR systems and data security raised by Justin Gaver; and consideration of ordinance and enforcement options on vape/tobacco sales to persons under 21 raised by Jibri (Jibreep) Poe. The motion was seconded and council voted on each item separately.
Council approved adding the homelessness update to a future meeting for a staff briefing; it also approved a presentation on ALPR/Flock Safety and related data-security concerns. Justin Gaver had told the council an independent vulnerability analysis (Gainsec Research, June 2025) identified nine security issues with Flock Safety devices, citing disabled secure boot, an unlocked bootloader and other flaws and urging transparency and a police partnership to address vulnerabilities.
The council likewise approved scheduling consideration of potential ordinances or enforcement enhancements addressing sales of vape and tobacco products to persons under 21. Jibri Poe, representing the 40 Ways Coalition, read a statutory citation for Virginia code provisions on retail tobacco and hemp-product sales and asked the Lynchburg Police Department to start or increase sting operations and for council to consider higher fines or penalties for violators.
The record shows each of the three referrals passed in recorded roll-call votes; the vape/tobacco referral was recorded with one 'no' vote and otherwise carried. Council members said they wanted staff presentations and more information before taking policy action.
Staff was directed to schedule the presentations and report back to council at a future meeting.
