Flock License Plate Reader Surveillance and Ordinance 38-2026
Upper Arlington
Summary
The city's 20-camera Flock network has drawn intense resident opposition over outside-agency access, data security, and privacy. A proposed ordinance would create tiered search approvals, with judicial review for searches older than nine days. Council takes it up again October 12 with crime-data analysis.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 3
- Last 30 days
- 3
Discussed at 2 meetings in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 12, 2026.
Impact analysis
The Flock contract runs through 2028 at about $50,000 a year with no termination for convenience — turning it off now would cost roughly $110,000 in payments for nothing.
Police get investigative leads, but residents demanding privacy protections could gain guardrails or a pause.
Opponents say all drivers are subject to mass surveillance and that 99%+ of searches on the system come from outside agencies.
Mentions & discussions (3)
Upper Arlington City Council is considering new rules for the city's 20 Flock cameras
Upper Arlington City Council is considering new rules for the city's 20 Flock cameras WSYX
City Council - Oct 12, 2026
Council is deciding whether to keep, restrict, or remove the Flock automated license plate camera network. Staff recommend a misuse penalty, turning off external data sharing, and possibly shortening 30-day retention to 48 hours. Eight residents urged pausing or removing the cameras over privacy and civil-liberties concerns.
City Council - Oct 5, 2026
The city's 20-camera Flock network has drawn intense resident opposition over outside-agency access, data security, and privacy. A proposed ordinance would create tiered search approvals, with judicial review for searches older than nine days. Council takes it up again October 12 with crime-data analysis.
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