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Police clarify off‑road vehicle rules, Flock license‑plate cameras and rising storage‑unit thefts
Summary
Sergeant Wear told the council that side‑by‑sides and golf carts are not allowed on village streets absent a local ordinance, explained Flock camera policy and access controls and warned that self‑storage thefts are increasing in the area.
MIDDLEVILLE — The village’s law-enforcement representative on Aug. 12 clarified several public-safety issues that have circulated in the community: off‑road vehicles on streets, the capabilities and controls for the Flock license-plate camera system, and a spike in self-storage thefts.
Sergeant Wear said that, unless the council adopts a local ordinance allowing such vehicles, state law and the village’s default position prohibit side‑by‑sides and golf carts from operating on village road surfaces. "The Barry County ordinance does not include the village of Middleville...we default back to state law. State law is a misdemeanor to drive those vehicles on the roadway," he said.
On Flock cameras, Wear said the system captures license-plate images only and does not capture drivers or personal information by itself; plates are retained in Flock’s system for 30 days unless specifically saved. He described administrative controls that limit access: sergeants, a road lieutenant, the undersheriff and two deputies working in the village have access, and searches require a purpose code and, per village policy, a case number. "Flock cameras only capture license plates. They do not capture drivers," Wear said.
The sergeant also warned of increased thefts from self-storage units in Middleville and neighboring communities and recommended that residents periodically inventory their units and use two locks where allowed.
Why it matters: The remarks address persistent community concern about policing tools and local roadway safety, and clarify what police can and cannot do under current village rules and state law. Officials said strict documentation and purpose codes are required to run searches and that internal audits and documentation accompany system use.
What’s next: Council members asked about oversight and logs; Wear said he periodically audits use and that formal documentation accompanies searches in case reports. The council did not take any formal regulatory action on the items during the meeting.
