Resident asks Lafayette to justify Flock license‑plate readers and independent security testing

A Lafayette resident raised pointed privacy and security questions about the city's contract with Flock, the private provider of license‑plate reader cameras.

"My concern is that we have adopted a system that creates a searchable record of where vehicles have been, and I don't think Lafayette has adequately demonstrated it's that that is something that we need," Tamara Grunwald told council.

Grunwald cited documented Flock security problems, asked whether Lafayette had conducted independent penetration or security testing, and requested clarity about how officer searches are audited and what penalties exist for misuse. She noted that a large share of Flock cameras in Lafayette are sited around the hospital and asked what safeguards prevent sensitive health‑related location patterns from being used to infer protected information.

She also referenced recent decisions by other Colorado municipalities (Fort Collins and Denver) to pause or end Flock contracts and asked staff whether Lafayette had evaluated less privacy‑ invasive alternatives or independent verification of Flock's claims. Council and staff acknowledged the question and asked planning and public‑safety staff to return with more information on audits, monitoring and options for independent testing.

"If those records exist, I think the public deserves to know who is reviewing them and whether that review is actually happening," she said.