Dear Munhall Borough Council, Mayor, and Police Chief Jamie Caterino, 

We, the undersigned residents of Munhall and concerned community members, call for the immediate removal of the two Flock Safety automated license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras recently installed on Main Street in December 2025. While we support genuine efforts to enhance public safety, these cameras represent an invasive form of mass surveillance that tracks every vehicle without warrants or meaningful public input, eroding our privacy and civil liberties. 

Flock Safety's ALPR systems capture detailed data on vehicle movements—including license plates, make, model, color, timestamps, and locations—creating a searchable record of residents' daily lives. This data is stored for up to 30 days and can be shared with external agencies, including state police and federal entities like ICE, without adequate oversight. In Munhall, a small community of about 11,000, such technology is unnecessary and disproportionate, especially given the lack of prior public hearings or resident consultation. 

Key concerns include: 

- Violation of Privacy and Fourth Amendment Rights: These cameras indiscriminately scan every passing vehicle, enabling warrantless tracking of innocent people. Civil rights groups like the ACLU and EFF warn of "mission creep," where data could be misused for unrelated purposes, such as monitoring protesters or enforcing out-of-state laws. 

- Lack of Transparency and Public Input: The installations occurred without community awareness or debate. Under Pennsylvania's House Bill 133, ALPR use must be limited to legitimate law enforcement, with safeguards for data confidentiality—yet no details on contracts, costs, or audits have been shared. 

- Questionable Effectiveness and Bias Risks: Studies show low "hit" rates (e.g., 0.2% in Maryland statewide systems), meaning most data collected is on law-abiding citizens. In areas like Pittsburgh suburbs, similar systems have led to over-policing in vulnerable communities without proven crime reductions. 

- Potential for Abuse and Data Sharing: Flock's network allows nationwide access, raising fears of federal overreach. Recent examples in other cities include false accusations and unauthorized sharing. 

We demand: 

1. Immediate deactivation and removal of the Flock cameras on Main Street. 

2. A public hearing to discuss surveillance policies, including full disclosure of the contract, costs, data usage, and any sharing agreements. 

3. Adoption of stricter local ordinances prohibiting mass-surveillance ALPR systems, modeled on ACLU recommendations for short data retention, no external sharing, and verified local watchlists only. 

4. Exploration of privacy-respecting alternatives for public safety, such as community policing or targeted measures. 

By signing this petition, we affirm our commitment to a safe Munhall that respects residents' rights. Join us in protecting our community's privacy—sign and share today!