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Washington Terrace council approves trial of Flock license-plate cameras over privacy objections
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Summary
The Washington Terrace City Council voted 4-1 on March 17 to approve a trial period for Flock license-plate-reading cameras to aid vehicle investigations; opponents raised concerns about misreads, data sharing and surveillance of residents.
The Washington Terrace City Council on March 17 approved a trial period to install Flock license-plate-reading cameras in the city, voting 4-1 after a heated debate over privacy and reliability.
Finance Director Shari' Garrett and City Manager Tom Hanson told the council the trial carries no setup cost for the city and that the sheriff currently pays for three existing cameras; the city would cover additional cameras if it proceeds after the trial. Hanson said relocating a camera would cost roughly $150 to $750 depending on infrastructure.
The motion to approve the trial was made by Council Member Michael Thomas and seconded by Council Member Anna Davidson; the council voted with Davidson, Cheryl Parkinson, Jeff West and Thomas in favor and Council Member Zunayid Z. Zishan opposed.
Citizen commenter Casey Sanders urged the council to pause and gather more public input, saying researchers found Flock camera feeds publicly accessible and that "placing surveillance cameras in the parks means monitoring families and children and residents, raising privacy concerns and how the footage could be used over time." Sanders recommended the city slow down and evaluate long-term risks before moving forward.
Opponents on the council pressed reliability and oversight concerns. Council Member Zishan said recent reporting indicates "misreads of vehicles and license plates can happen 10 percent of the time, causing a real risk of misidentification," and warned of instances where systems were shared with federal agencies without local governments' knowledge. Zishan voted against the trial.
Supporters cited public-safety benefits. Mayor Mark C. Allen pointed to local uses of the system and said it had been effective in serious investigations, stating that "since this was last discussed, there have been two murderers caught using the flock system." Council Member Jeff West said the system has a high chance of helping recover stolen vehicles and find missing people, saying there is a "90 percent chance that the system will help someone." Hanson and Lt. Sean Endsley described protocols intended to limit access and ensure officers verify license-plate reads before acting.
The council directed staff to set parameters and protocols for the trial; Hanson said the city will work with the sheriff's office on governance and access. The trial begins with setup fees waived and no immediate cost to the city for the initial period.