Residents press Cheektowaga board to review ALPR ‘Flock’ system and data-sharing policies

Several residents used public comment at the April 14 Cheektowaga Town Board meeting to urge immediate review or termination of the town’s Flock automatic license plate reader (ALPR) system and the policies governing its use and data retention.

Jess Greenwald and Jennifer Berman told the board that the system scans every passing vehicle, that a local transparency audit had shown large volumes of scanned plates and limited documented reasons for queries, and that the vendor shares data broadly with third parties. Greenwald said the system was sold as a vehicle‑theft tool but cited data showing vehicle-theft arrests have not increased. She urged the board to better protect resident privacy and to examine the contract and retention policies.

Jennifer Berman demanded compliance with pending state legislation (Assembly Bill A10808) and recommended a 24‑hour data purge unless records are tied to an active warrant. She also raised concerns about cloud storage and whether external entities access the data.

Supervisor Noak acknowledged the concerns, said he is researching the experience of other municipalities and reviewing recent changes since approval, and promised follow-up information on cost and contract terms. Board members asked staff to report back with precise renewal dates, contract costs and legal guidance.

What happens next: The board will pursue more information about the Flock contract, cost, renewal date, retention and data‑sharing practices and will provide a follow-up at a future meeting. Several residents said they would supply supplemental documents to the board.

Representative quote: "It scans every car that passes it... it's a surveillance dragnet," Jess Greenwald said during public comment.