Visual Field Guide

What Is the Camera on a Pole in Salt Lake City, Utah?

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

88documented in Salt Lake City
88community-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. Salt Lake City, Utah.

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. Salt Lake City, Utah.

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 Salt Lake City

88 Flock Safety ALPR cameras have been reported in Salt Lake City, Utah by community members. 88 have been independently verified.

View all 88 cameras in Salt Lake City →

Utah ALPR Data Retention Law

Retention period:No statewide limit

Utah has no statewide ALPR retention statute. Salt Lake City and Utah County have significant ALPR deployments. The Utah Legislature has not enacted ALPR-specific privacy legislation.

Frequently Asked Questions — Salt Lake City

What is the small camera on a pole in Salt Lake City, Utah?

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. 88 have been documented in Salt Lake City by community members on this map.

How do I tell a Flock camera from a traffic camera in Salt Lake City?

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 Salt Lake City?

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.