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Council to study privacy rules for license-plate readers after public concerns
Summary
Following public comments criticizing Flock license-plate cameras, staff said it will research peer-city policies and return with recommendations in September balancing privacy protections and law-enforcement utility.
A resident raised privacy concerns about the town's Flock license-plate-reader (ALPR) system during public comment, arguing the cameras were implemented without explicit public debate. The council asked staff to research policies from other Arizona cities and return with a recommended local policy.
Town attorneys and staff told the council they surveyed risk-pool cities and identified a range of local policies. The town attorney said he would collect model policies (including those from Tempe and other Arizona jurisdictions) and propose language that preserves public-privacy protections while allowing the town and law enforcement to use ALPR data where appropriate. Staff said they expect to present recommendations in September when the council reconvenes after summer recess.
Why it matters: residents said the cameras represent mass surveillance and asked for certainty about data retention, access and public notice. Staff acknowledged ALPR can be a tool for crime solving but agreed that the town should adopt clearer privacy safeguards and operational limits. The town attorney said the council could also choose not to continue the system after review.
What's next: staff will return with a draft policy and comparative examples. A council member said she had already received an email with supporting materials from a resident speaker and directed staff to follow up with that contributor.
