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Lane County Sheriff briefed Lowell on two-year Flock license-plate reader trial
Summary
Lane County Sheriff Carl Wilkerson told the Lowell City Council the sheriff's office has a two-year, drug-forfeiture-funded trial contract with Flock for license-plate reader cameras, described technical and privacy safeguards, and identified potential camera sites near Jasper-Lowell Road and across from the school.
Sheriff Carl Wilkerson told the Lowell City Council on Nov. 4 that the Lane County Sheriff's Office has entered a two-year trial contract with Flock for license-plate reader (LPR) cameras and that the trial is being funded with drug-forfeiture funds rather than the city's general fund. "I'm not trying to sell anything or push the technology on the city," Wilkerson said, framing the briefing as informational.
Wilkerson described the system's technical limits and data safeguards, saying the cameras take still images of license plates rather than continuous video, do not use facial recognition and are "not tied to any database that identifies vehicle owners." He said captured data is retained for 30 days. The sheriff called the technology a "force multiplier" and said it has helped locate murder and kidnapping suspects in Lane County jurisdictions where it is in use.
Officer DJ Mann listed possible Lowell camera locations: "One near Jasper Lowell Road coming up to Highway 58 between the Covered Bridge and city limits" and "one across from the school to cover both directions of traffic." He noted technical placement requirements including reliable cellular service, good solar exposure for power and permission to use utility poles.
Council members asked about visibility, signage, subpoena access and nighttime image quality. Wilkerson said images can be subpoenaed and that the office controls the data and who it is shared with; he said current policy restricts sharing to agencies in Oregon, Washington and California for specific investigations and that the office is considering limiting sharing to Lane County agencies only. On the subject of subpoenas he noted plate numbers could be redacted in some disclosures.
City Administrator Max Baker recommended including information about the cameras in the December Bridge newsletter and suggested scheduling further discussion at a regular meeting in December or January so the council could decide whether to pursue the matter further.
