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Redmond council votes 7-0 to terminate Flock automated license-plate-reader contract
Summary
After months of public comment and a prior pause, Redmond's council voted unanimously to end the city's contract with Flock for automated license-plate readers. Council members cited privacy and trust concerns; staff said grant funds used to implement the program are not required to be returned and the termination does not create additional city costs.
The Redmond City Council voted unanimously on July 21 to terminate its contract with Flock for automated license-plate readers. Council President Stewart said the program had been paused last year while policy guardrails and a contract review were completed, and that the decision to end the contract follows community feedback.
"Because of those guardrails, we do not believe that Redmond's automatic license plate reader data has ever been accessed by the federal government or other agencies," Council President Stewart said, while explaining why community concerns nevertheless supported ending the program. Council member Forsyth, who said she had "trepidations" about the cameras when they were first discussed, said she supported termination after community members expressed fear about the program's reach. Council members emphasized that state grant dollars used to implement the program are not being sought back by the state and that terminating the contract will not create additional financial obligations for the city. The motion carried by voice vote, 7-0.
