You've seen them around town: ominous black metal poles supporting solar-powered cameras. Word has only now begun to spread on what these controversial "Flock cameras" actually represent.

Automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), such as Flock cameras, are spreading everywhere. There are approximately 120,000 ALPRs deployed across the US - even here in Leander, Texas — creating massive networks that track where people drive, where they worship, where they seek medical care, gun show attendance, family visits, and everything we do while getting from point A to point B. This is all being done without a warrant, without probable cause as guaranteed by the Constitution, and without your knowledge.

ALPRs, sold and contracted by corporations such as Flock Safety and Axon, do far more than read numbers and letters on plates. They log the make, model, color, condition of your vehicle, and even bumper stickers. Law enforcement (not just in Leander, as the information may be shared with other local, state, and federal departments) can then assemble a frighteningly detailed picture of your daily life: your routines, your relationships, your movements. All of this information is collected on ordinary residents who in all likelihood have done absolutely nothing wrong. 

There are well-documented cases where police used such surveillance systems to track protesters and even stalk individuals. There are also now numerous, embarrassing stories of false leads generated by use of ALPRs in solving a case – no one should be pulled over, detained, or taken away from their home because a computer or a user got it wrong. The facts are showing that this “permanent dragnet” effect poses a dire threat to the values that uphold our society. 

We have no knowledge of where the data is going. Without proper oversight, who ensures that personal data isn’t being accessed, misused, hacked, or even sold? The installation of Flock cameras in public spaces effectively permits private companies to conduct surveillance without the rigorous regulations and public accountability expected of governmental institutions.

Moreover, Flock’s system relies on algorithms that generate frequent false positives. This can result in unfair treatment against various communities, exacerbating existing tensions and fostering mistrust between law enforcement and the public.

Research consistently shows that over-policing does not make communities safer, but damages that vital link of trust between residents and police. These devices treat surveillance as a substitute for addressing the real and underlying causes of crime.

In short, ALPRs:

·        TRACK WHERE YOU GO AND WHAT YOU DO

·        DO NOT REDUCE CRIME

·        ARE RIPE FOR ABUSE

·        THREATEN YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

·        GENERATE CORPORATE PROFITS WITH YOUR DATA

Dozens of cities and counties across the nation have already taken a stand and canceled their Flock contracts, including nearby Lago Vista and Burnet County – you have the power to do the same in Leander.

Sign the petition. Demand that city leaders reject and remove all ALPRs from Leander until adequate safeguards are implemented to protect our freedoms, privacy and rights!

Spread the word by distributing this flyer-  Flock Flyer