Visual Field Guide

What Is the Camera on a Pole in Alachua County, Florida?

If you spotted a small rectangular camera mounted on a utility pole or street sign in Alachua County, it's almost certainly a Flock Safety ALPR license plate reader — not a traffic camera, not a security camera. Here's how to confirm it.

53documented in Alachua County
53community-verified
Flock Safety ALPR camera mounted on a utility pole

How to Identify a Flock Safety Camera

Six visual features that distinguish Flock Safety ALPR cameras from traffic cameras, security cameras, and other pole-mounted devices. Alachua County, Florida.

1
Housing shape
Rectangular white or grey box, roughly 8″ × 5″ × 3″
2
IR lens array
Cluster of small infrared LEDs around a central camera lens
3
Mounting height
Typically 8–12 ft on utility poles, street signs, or fence posts
4
Solar panel
Many units have a small panel angled toward the sun above the housing
5
Flock logo
Small “Flock Safety” text or bird logo on the housing face
6
Cellular antenna
Short rubber antenna stub on top or side for LTE connectivity

Flock Safety Camera Models

Three hardware variants are deployed across the US. Alachua County, Florida.

Standard Flock Safety ALPR camera mounted on a utility pole
Standard pole-mount
Solar-powered Flock Safety camera with integrated solar panel
Solar-powered
Flock Safety Condor camera on a highway overpass
Condor (highway)

Documented Flock Cameras in Alachua County

53 Flock Safety ALPR cameras have been reported in Alachua County, Florida by community members. 53 have been independently verified.

View all 53 cameras in Alachua County →

Florida ALPR Data Retention Law

Retention period:60 days for non-hit data under some agency policies

Florida law allows ALPR data retention for up to 60 days for non-hit reads under many agency policies, though no single statewide statute mandates this limit. Data associated with active investigations may be retained indefinitely. Florida has one of the largest Flock Safety deployments in the country, with cameras in hundreds of municipalities and HOAs.

Statute: Fla. Stat. § 316.0778

Frequently Asked Questions — Alachua County

What is the small camera on a pole in Alachua County, Florida?

It's almost certainly a Flock Safety ALPR (Automatic License Plate Reader). These devices photograph every passing vehicle's license plate, timestamp, and direction of travel. 53 have been documented in Alachua County by community members on this map.

How do I tell a Flock camera from a traffic camera in Alachua County?

Traffic cameras are typically larger, mounted at intersections on signal arms, and face the road horizontally. Flock Safety cameras are smaller (roughly 8×5 inches), mounted on utility poles or fence posts at 8–12 ft, and often have a visible IR LED ring and a small solar panel. They are not connected to traffic signals.

Who operates Flock Safety cameras in Alachua County?

Cameras can be operated by local police departments, HOAs, private businesses, or neighborhood associations. Flock Safety sells directly to all of these groups. The operator is not always disclosed publicly, which is why community mapping efforts like this one exist.