For those of us living in Bleckley County, Georgia, the intrusion of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs), such as those from Flock Safety, into our daily lives is a pressing concern. These surveillance systems silently watch us, capturing personal data without our consent and without us having any say in the matter. ALPRs violate our right to privacy, a fundamental liberty enshrined in the 4th Amendment of the United States Constitution.

   We never had a vote on whether we wanted these systems in place. They were installed without our input, secretly eroding the freedoms we hold dear. Furthermore, law enforcement officers can access this data without a warrant, giving them unprecedented power to search and track our movements without probable cause. This is an affront to our rights and a dangerous precedent for governmental overreach.

   Despite Flock Safety's claims of enhancing community safety, their CEO Garrett Langley openly admits that the deployment of these cameras means Americans must "compromise" their privacy for an ill-defined sense of security. This trade-off is neither necessary nor acceptable, especially when numerous reports have surfaced about law enforcement agencies abusing such surveillance systems to spy on citizens without any legal justification.

   One argument against the removal of ALPR's is, "Well if you have nothing to hide, then why do you care?" We can almost guarantee that if an LEO asked to have full access to your phone and go into another room with it, 9 out of 10 people would be uncomfortable, even if they had "nothing to hide." You may not be doing anything "wrong" now, but what protections are in place for our federal government or some other government body to move the goalpost on what is considered "wrong"? 

   Another claim is that the removal of ALPR's would prevent LEO's from doing their job. If that was the case, how did they manage before ALPR's were a thing? It is still entirely possible to track a person suspected of a crime without the use of ALPR's, and without surveilling people who had nothing to do with said suspected crime.  We acknowledge the good that ALPR's can do for a community. However, the blatant violation of our constitutionally protected rights is too great of an issue to simply ignore. 

   We, the citizens of Bleckley County, deserve better. Our desire is not to hinder law enforcement but to ensure that their practices adhere to the democratic principles of transparency and accountability. Effective policing does not require sacrificing the privacy of law-abiding citizens. In fact, communities thrive when mutual trust and respect are upheld between the public and those sworn to protect them.

Our goals are simple and clear:
1. Remove all ALPR systems from Bleckley County immediately.
2. Adopt policies that protect the privacy of individuals and ensure any surveillance practices are transparent and approved by local citizens.
3. Enact strict regulations requiring law enforcement to obtain judicial approval before accessing any surveillance data collected.

By signing this petition, you are standing up for your constitutional rights and demanding that our county leaders listen to the voices of their constituents. Together, we can advocate for a safer, more private and more democratic place to live. Your support is crucial. Sign this petition to protect our privacy and preserve the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution.