Key facts
- Representative Thomas Massie plans to introduce legislation.
- The legislation would cut federal funds for agencies using Flock cameras.
- Public privacy concerns are driving opposition to Flock cameras.
- Safety advocates claim Flock cameras pose a roadside hazard.
- The cameras are often black and lack breakaway features.
- Advocates state cameras are frequently installed too close to travel lanes.
- This placement violates federal guidelines.
- The violation increases the risk of severe injury or fatality in a crash.
- Some local governments are reconsidering or canceling Flock camera deployments.
Representative Thomas Massie intends to introduce legislation aimed at halting federal funding for agencies that utilize Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. This proposed bill arises from escalating public apprehension regarding privacy implications associated with the surveillance technology. Concurrently, safety advocates have voiced significant concerns about the physical dangers these cameras present to motorists. They assert that Flock Safety's ALPR cameras, frequently painted black and lacking breakaway mechanisms, are often positioned too near to active travel lanes. This placement, advocates argue, contravenes federal guidelines and substantially elevates the risk of severe injury or fatality should a vehicle collide with the camera apparatus. The dual concerns of privacy and physical safety are prompting some local governments to re-evaluate or discontinue their use of Flock cameras.