Commissioners approve nonexclusive agreement to place license‑plate reader cameras on state right‑of‑way

The Adams County Board of Commissioners authorized execution of a nonexclusive agreement with the Indiana Department of Transportation to locate automated license‑plate reader cameras (vendor referenced as Flock) in state right‑of‑way at multiple highway approaches into the county.

County staff described the arrangement as a standard state agreement used across the state. The cameras capture license plates and compare them to national hotlists (stolen vehicles, wanted persons or habitual traffic violators). The vendor provides installation and is contractually responsible for equipment replacement if damaged in most cases, and the system does not capture images of drivers or measure speed, staff said.

Commission discussion focused on location selection (major roadways into the county), privacy and operational use. The sheriff's office and staff said the system has already produced useful hits on habitual traffic violators and vehicles of interest. One commissioner expressed concerns and voted against the motion; the board otherwise authorized execution of the agreement (transcript records a 2‑1 vote and "motion carries"). Commissioners tasked the chair and staff to sign the agreement and to circulate copies to parties as needed.

Next steps: staff will sign the state agreement and provide signed copies; the sheriff's office will maintain operational use of hotlists and administrative processes for alerts.