Residents deliver petition calling for limits on license-plate cameras; council invites public briefing
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Summary
A petition with 779 signatures asked Cheyenne to halt expansion of 'Flock' license-plate cameras, remove cameras in residential areas, and ban warrantless sharing of data; council members called the petition misleading and invited petitioners to a Public Safety Center briefing for more detail.
During other business at its Feb. 23 meeting, the Cheyenne City Council received a petition presented by Ted Hanlon, chair of the Laramie County Democratic Party, calling on the city to halt expansion of the Flock Safety camera network, remove cameras that surveil residential neighborhoods, and pass an ordinance restricting license-plate data collection and sharing without a warrant. Hanlon said the petition collected 779 signatures.
In his presentation, Hanlon described the cameras as "advanced license plate readers that create a searchable database of where you go, who you visit, and when you leave your home." He called the system "a digital dragnet" and urged stronger limits on data retention and sharing.
Several council members responded that the petition contained inaccuracies and urged petitioners to attend an upcoming public briefing at the Public Safety Center where police staff will explain how the system operates, what data is retained, access controls, and the crimes the cameras have helped solve. One council member described the petition language as "misleading" and asked the petitioners to bring supporters to the briefing so staff could answer specific legal and operational questions.
No ordinance or formal action was taken that evening. Council members and staff said they would schedule or publicize a dedicated briefing for citizens to review the program and ask questions.
Next steps: the council invited the petitioner and community members to a planned Public Safety Center meeting where police and staff will outline the camera system's uses, access controls and data policies.
