Rangely resident urges ballot vote on Flock license‑plate readers; council will seek legal advice

Mark Stamus, a Rangely resident speaking during public comment, urged the Town Council to place the town’s recently installed Flock license‑plate reader system on the next local ballot so voters can decide its future.

"I would propose that something be placed on the ballot asking whether the public would like to keep this flock system in place," Stamus said, asking elected officials to let residents decide. He argued council members’ assessment of public support was not supported by evidence and said a ballot measure would show “what the town thinks about it.”

Stamus told the council he worries the system feeds vehicle images and movement data into cloud systems that could be aggregated and misused. "The fact that everybody's data as they pass this camera is being sent up into the cloud somewhere and analyzed," he said, adding scenarios in which movement data could expose when homes are vacant.

Council members acknowledged the tension between privacy concerns and law‑enforcement utility. Several members said the system has been useful to police for identifying vehicles connected to crimes, while also recognizing residents’ privacy worries. Rather than take immediate action, the council agreed to consult the town attorney about the legal and procedural steps for a ballot measure or other remedies.

The Flock system first appeared in council materials earlier in 2025 when a roughly $9,000 payment for license‑plate reader services was questioned, Stamus said. Council members noted that additional information and legal guidance are needed before deciding whether to place an item on a local ballot, or to require a petition.

The council did not set a timeline for a decision; members said staff will seek legal counsel and report back at a future meeting.