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Residents and ACLU push Petaluma to pause ALPR use and review ‘Flock’ contract
Summary
Public commenters and the Public Safety Advisory Committee urged council to consider terminating the city's contract for four automated license‑plate readers (ALPRs) with vendor ‘Flock,’ citing data‑sharing and civil‑liberties risks; staff said policy updates and contract review are underway.
Several community members and civil‑liberties advocates urged the council to halt expansion of automated license‑plate readers and to reconsider the city’s contract with vendor ‘Flock.’
Robin Riley, an ACLU volunteer and former member of the city’s Technology Advisory Committee, described sustained public concern since October when four cameras were installed and requested an immediate moratorium on new surveillance hardware and an accessible community workshop. “I ask the city council and city staff to place a moratorium or slow down and not expand any of the surveillance technology,” Riley said. She and others argued that cloud‑stored, AI‑driven plate‑reader data can be shared broadly and could be accessed by federal agencies.
Staff and advisory committee review: Council’s Public Safety Advisory Committee heard extensive public comment earlier this year and recommended that council evaluate the ALPR provider and alternative services. The committee noted the city’s policy (Policy 461) was updated and that data retention was set to 30 days unless used in active investigations; staff said the city attorney is reviewing the service provider contract. The committee also noted the city’s ALPR grant expires in fall 2026 and estimated an ongoing operating cost of about $12,000 per year for the four devices after grant funds expire.
Next steps: Council members asked staff to bring the contract review and policy implications back for consideration and said a community workshop and clearer reporting on who can access ALPR data would be helpful.
