Council weighs 60-day Flock camera trial amid privacy and effectiveness concerns

Washington Terrace City Council on March 3 debated a proposed 60-day trial of additional Flock automated license-plate readers that would be leased by the city and operated with access by the Weber County Sheriff’s Office.

City Manager Tom Hanson said staff and Lt. Sean Endsley had identified potential camera locations and recommended a 60-day trial to evaluate results. Hanson said the city would lease the cameras and that access would be restricted to the sheriff’s office with sharing governed by a memorandum of understanding.

Council Member Zunayid Z. Zishan urged caution, citing research (Cornell Law) he said found no evidence that the cameras reduce crime and alleging documented abuses tied to the private company’s cloud access, including use of data in immigration queries and warrantless searches. Zishan said the company operates a nationwide cloud linking tens of thousands of cameras and that several other cities have canceled contracts.

Lt. Endsley described system controls: automated license-plate readers capture vehicle data; searches require a case number; supervisory and detective-level search rights are restricted; audit logs record who accessed data and why; the system typically holds data for about 30 days though state law allows up to nine months of retention.

Council members pressed on both privacy and operational value. Council Member Cheryl Parkinson and Council Member Anna Davidson emphasized guardrails and law-enforcement benefits such as reducing time spent on door-to-door canvassing. Mayor Mark C. Allen said recent news reports and reported abuses have left him uncertain about adopting the system.

Hanson said the specific budget decision will return to the council for a formal motion and vote.