Visual Field Guide

What Is the Camera on a Pole in Coralville, Iowa?

If you spotted a small rectangular camera mounted on a utility pole or street sign in Coralville, 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.

11documented in Coralville
11community-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. Coralville, Iowa.

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. Coralville, Iowa.

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 Coralville

11 Flock Safety ALPR cameras have been reported in Coralville, Iowa by community members. 11 have been independently verified.

View all 11 cameras in Coralville →

Iowa ALPR Data Retention Law

Retention period:No statewide limit

Iowa lacks a statewide ALPR retention law. The Iowa Department of Transportation operates fixed ALPR readers on major highways. Des Moines and Cedar Rapids have adopted Flock Safety systems in recent years.

Frequently Asked Questions — Coralville

What is the small camera on a pole in Coralville, Iowa?

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. 11 have been documented in Coralville by community members on this map.

How do I tell a Flock camera from a traffic camera in Coralville?

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 Coralville?

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.