We, the undersigned residents of Blount County, Tennessee, demand that the Blount County Commission, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Blount County Mayor, Maryville City Council, and other local authorities immediately terminate all contracts with Flock Safety (or any similar ALPR providers) and remove these cameras from our roads, neighborhoods, and public spaces.

(We understand that the Sheriff's department has full control over their usage of these cameras so we are asking that they terminate all use of them. In the meantime we ask the county commissioners to prohibit any business, entity, or person outside of BCSO from utilizing these cameras from here on in the unincorporated part of Blount County. We will also bring this to the attention of The City of Maryville and ask that they consider a ban as well.)

Blount County and cities like Maryville have deployed Flock Safety Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) cameras that create a dragnet surveillance network. These cameras automatically scan and record every vehicle’s license plate, make, model, color, bumper stickers, appearance of drivers, and travel patterns — building detailed location histories on law-abiding residents without warrants or individualized suspicion. Data is stored in the cloud and shared widely with other agencies.

•Key Reasons for Removal:

-Privacy and Fourth Amendment Violations: These systems enable warrantless tracking of innocent citizens’ movements, creating a chilling effect on freedom of travel and association in our communities.
Mass Surveillance and Data Sharing Risks: Local data can be accessed by 1,000+ outside law enforcement agencies nationwide. This raises serious concerns about misuse for political targeting, civil matters, or by private parties. There is inadequate local oversight, public auditing, or strict retention limits.

-Lack of Transparency and Public Input: Cameras were installed with limited resident notice or debate. Contracts involve ongoing taxpayer costs, yet full details on data practices, effectiveness, and safeguards are often not fully disclosed.

-Questionable Public Safety Benefits: While promoted for crime-solving and stolen vehicle recovery, studies and local experience show the privacy costs outweigh unproven broad benefits. True safety comes from community policing, not unaccountable tech.

•We call for the following immediate actions:

-Cancel all existing Flock Safety (and similar ALPR) contracts and physically remove the cameras.
Prohibit future deployment of any mass vehicle surveillance systems without full public hearings, transparent RFPs, and strict privacy policies (including warrant requirements, short retention periods, and audit logs).

-Conduct a public audit of all data collected to date, including who has accessed it and how it has been used/shared.

-Redirect funds toward proven, rights-respecting community safety initiatives.

-Pass a local ordinance limiting ALPR use to protect Blount County residents’ constitutional rights.

-Public pressure has already led other communities to remove or reject these systems. Blount County — home to proud, independent Tennesseans near the Smokies — should lead by prioritizing liberty over surveillance.

Sign this petition to stand with your neighbors for privacy, transparency, and limited government in Blount County!