Remove Flock cameras and LPRs in Pickens County

The Issue

In recent years, the proliferation of Flock cameras and License Plate Readers (LPRs) throughout the county has raised significant concerns about privacy, overreach, and transparency. These surveillance devices, installed without direct citizen approval, infringe upon the fundamental rights and freedoms of our community members. It is crucial to address the unchecked power of the Sheriff's office, which has been making legislative decisions beyond its scope of authority, implementing surveillance policies without the consent of the governed.

The democratic principle requires that significant decisions impacting public privacy are made with full transparency and citizen involvement, yet this has not been the case with the deployment of these surveillance tools. By bypassing the citizens, the executive branch essentially takes on a legislative role, enacting policies that have not been legally granted to them. This overreach poses a threat to our democratic ideals and personal liberties.

Furthermore, there is limited evidence to support the effectiveness of these tools in reducing crime rates. Studies have often shown that such surveillance methods can lead to racial profiling, misuse of data, and accidental invasions of privacy. The indiscriminate use of these technologies creates a chilling effect on our community, leading to unwarranted fear and mistrust between citizens and law enforcement.

There must be a halt to current surveillance practices until a transparent and inclusive process is established that includes citizen input and approval. Legal and ethical frameworks need to be developed to govern the use of surveillance technology, ensuring that it aligns with the values and rights of the people it purports to protect.

We demand the removal of all existing Flock cameras and License Plate Readers in the county and the prevention of future installation without explicit citizen consent. It's time to reclaim our privacy rights and ensure accountability from those in power.

Join us in this critical effort by signing this petition to insist on democratic involvement in surveillance decisions and safeguard our constitutional rights.

Jennifer HemptonPetition Starter

Media inquiries

519

Let’s get to 1000 signatures!

Petitions with 1,000+ supporters are 5x more likely to win!

The Issue

Join us in this critical effort by signing this petition to insist on democratic involvement in surveillance decisions and safeguard our constitutional rights.

Jennifer HemptonPetition Starter

Media inquiries

92 people signed this week

519

Let’s get to 1000 signatures!

Petitions with 1,000+ supporters are 5x more likely to win!

The Decision Makers

Tommy Blankenship,

Pickens County Sheriff

Responded

South Carolina

“Thank you for reaching out and for providing me with the opportunity to respond directly to the citizens who have signed the petition concerning Flock cameras and automated license plate readers (ALPRs) in Pickens County. Some version of ALPR (Automatic License Plate Reader) technology has been in use at the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office since the mid 2000’s, and the most recent form of this technology was put in place by the Sheriff and administration prior to me taking office. I do respect the concerns of the citizens and those expressed in the petition. Privacy, constitutional rights, government transparency, and public trust are all serious issues, and I do not believe that law enforcement should dismiss those concerns simply because a technology is useful to investigators. As Sheriff, I have an obligation to protect the community, but I also have an obligation to protect the constitutional rights of the people we serve. Since recent events have created public concern, my staff and I have been in the process over the past several weeks of reevaluating our usage and guidelines. I do believe citizens deserve an accurate understanding of how the technology is being used by the Pickens County Sheriff's Office. First, the only camera technology we use from the Flock company is their ALPR camera. We do not use their PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom), nor any camera that provides sound or video. We only utilize the ALPR image cameras for investigative leads. They do not have access to sensitive information, that requires an additional step by Law Enforcement. The purpose of our ALPR system is not to monitor the daily lives of law-abiding citizens. It is an investigative tool intended to assist with matters such as stolen vehicles, stolen license plates, missing persons, wanted persons, and other legitimate law-enforcement investigations. Our policy specifically limits ALPR use to legitimate law-enforcement purposes. It prohibits personal use or any other improper use of the system, and misuse will result in disciplinary action and potentially criminal charges. There are also additional restrictions on how/when our deputies can access the information. Every search of ALPR database records must include the offense type, the reason for the search, and a case number or, when a case number has not yet been assigned, a CFS (Call For Service) number and a detailed description of the matter. More importantly, our policy requires additional authorization for “historical searches”. Except when there are articulable exigent circumstances, any search for information more than 72 hours old requires an ALPR Historical Data Request and approval from a supervisor or member of command staff before the search is conducted. Our policy also limits retention of historical ALPR data to no more than 30 days. The Sheriff's Office also conducts its own quarterly audit of ALPR use through the Office of Professional Standards, separate from the audit tool performed by the technology provider. Employees who have access to the system must receive training before being granted access and annually thereafter. That training specifically includes applicable federal and state law, court decisions, Fourth Amendment considerations, lawful and reasonable use, and audit and accountability procedures. We also have safeguards around ALPR alerts themselves. An ALPR "hit" is not considered conclusive. Before an officer initiates a traffic stop, or other law enforcement action, based upon an alert, the officer must visually verify the plate and independently verify the current information through law-enforcement communications or an MDT (Mobile Data Terminal) query. An ALPR alert by itself is not sufficient reasonable suspicion or probable cause to initiate a stop. I believe these safeguards are important because technology should assist law enforcement, not replace an officer's judgment, investigation, or constitutional responsibilities. I also understand and respect the concern some citizens may have about entrusting sensitive information to a third-party software provider. That is a legitimate concern, particularly when government agencies are dealing with information that could affect the privacy and security of the people we serve. At the same time, Pickens County, like virtually every modern government organization, relies upon numerous third-party technology and software providers to conduct the business of government. The use of a third-party provider does not mean that the government simply turns over unrestricted control of sensitive information. Contracts, agreements, security requirements, access controls, and other safeguards are used to establish how information is handled, protected, stored, accessed, and ultimately deleted. Because I take those responsibilities seriously, members of PCSO leadership, along with two trusted IT professionals from Pickens County, met directly with representatives from Flock. I had asked difficult and…”

Tommy Blankenship

Pickens County Sheriff

Responded

Pickens County Council,

6 Members

South Carolina