Alexandria, Virginia’s mayor says she wants the city to move away from using Flock Safety license plate readers amid growing concerns over privacy and how the cameras can be used to track people’s movements.
“I do not think there’s a role for Flock in this community,” Mayor Alyia Gaskins said during a city council meeting Tuesday.
Alexandria police currently operate 61 Flock automatic license plate readers around the city. The cameras record license plates and other vehicle information, creating a searchable database that police can use in criminal investigations.
But the technology has come under increasing scrutiny over concerns about how much information is being collected, how long it is stored and who can access it.
Police Chief Tarrick McGuire told the council that the department has safeguards designed to prevent misuse. Only trained and authorized personnel can access the system, searches must have a legitimate law enforcement purpose and the department audits use of the system every 30 days, he said.
The data is generally deleted after 21 days, and McGuire said Alexandria does not share the information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“I am of the opinion,” he told the council, “as leaders, our responsibility is not to choose between public safety and civil liberties. Our responsibility is to ensure that both are protected. The Constitution does not ask us to sacrifice one for another.”
McGuire said the cameras have helped Alexandria police solve serious crimes, including homicide and sex offense cases. But he also told council members that he has been talking with other vendors that he believes could provide stronger safeguards. The city’s contract with Flock, which began in 2023, can be canceled at any time.
Several council members indicated they want the city to move away from Flock.
Councilmember Sandy Marks said simply replacing the company with another vendor would not necessarily address her concerns about license plate reader technology. “Eliminating Flock and moving to another system isn’t enough for me,” said Marks said.
Councilmember Abdel Elnoubi said police should have technology that helps them do their jobs, but not at the expense of residents’ rights.
“As we learn more and more about these systems, like Flock, and as we see concerns, we should be looking at other alternatives,” Elnoubi said.
Gaskins agreed that technology can play a role in public safety, but said residents should have a chance to weigh in before Alexandria decides what comes next.
No final decision has been made on ending the Flock contract. City officials are expected to return to the council with more information about the current system and possible alternatives.
WTOP’s Diane Morris contributed to this report.
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