Flock Safety Camera FAQ — ALPR Surveillance, Privacy & Your Rights

Question 1

What is Flock Safety?

Accepted Answer

Flock Safety is an Atlanta-based technology company founded in 2017 that manufactures and operates automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras. The company sells surveillance systems to law enforcement agencies, homeowners associations, and private communities. As of 2024, Flock Safety claims its cameras are deployed in thousands of communities across all 50 states.

Question 2

What is an ALPR camera?

Accepted Answer

An Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) is a camera system that automatically photographs passing vehicles and uses optical character recognition (OCR) software to extract the license plate number. Modern ALPRs like Flock Safety also capture vehicle make, model, color, and distinguishing features such as bumper stickers, roof racks, and damage. The data is timestamped and geotagged, then uploaded to a cloud database accessible by subscribing agencies.

Question 3

How does a Flock Safety camera work?

Accepted Answer

Each Flock camera uses an infrared-illuminated lens to capture a clear image of every vehicle that passes, day or night. The onboard processor extracts the license plate number and vehicle attributes in real time. This data is transmitted via cellular LTE to Flock's cloud platform, called Flock OS, where it is stored and made searchable by law enforcement agencies and community operators who subscribe to the service.

Question 4

Who operates Flock Safety cameras?

Accepted Answer

Flock cameras are operated by three main groups: (1) local police and sheriff departments, which use them to search for stolen vehicles and suspects; (2) homeowners associations (HOAs) and private communities, which use them to monitor neighborhood entrances; and (3) school districts and universities for campus security. Operators pay a subscription fee to Flock Safety and agree to data-sharing terms that typically allow neighboring agencies to access the footage.

Question 5

How many Flock Safety cameras are there in the US?

Accepted Answer

Flock Safety has not published an official total count, but the company has stated its cameras have been deployed in over 5,000 communities. Independent researchers and journalists estimate there are hundreds of thousands of individual camera units nationwide. Our community map tracks reported locations — you can help by reporting cameras you spot in your area.

Question 6

Are Flock Safety cameras legal?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in most jurisdictions. Courts have generally held that photographing vehicles on public roads does not constitute a search under the Fourth Amendment, because drivers have no reasonable expectation of privacy for their license plates in public. However, some states have enacted ALPR-specific laws that restrict how long data can be retained, who can access it, and what it can be used for. Laws vary significantly by state.

Question 7

What data does Flock Safety collect about me?

Accepted Answer

Every time your vehicle passes a Flock camera, the system records: your license plate number, the date and time, the GPS location of the camera, your vehicle's make, model, and color, and any visible distinguishing features (bumper stickers, roof racks, trailer hitches, damage). This data is linked to your vehicle registration, which agencies can use to identify the registered owner.

Question 8

How long does Flock Safety keep my data?

Accepted Answer

Flock Safety's default data retention period is 30 days, after which images are automatically deleted from their servers. However, individual agencies can negotiate longer retention periods in their contracts. Some states have passed laws capping retention — for example, California limits ALPR data retention to 60 days for most agencies. If law enforcement flags a record as part of an investigation, it may be retained indefinitely.

Question 9

Can I opt out of Flock Safety surveillance?

Accepted Answer

There is currently no universal opt-out mechanism for Flock Safety cameras. Some states allow individuals to request that their plate be added to a 'hotlist exemption' for domestic violence survivors or other vulnerable individuals, but this is not available everywhere. Your most effective options are: (1) submit a public records request to find out which agencies in your area use Flock; (2) contact your elected representatives to advocate for stronger ALPR regulations; and (3) support organizations like the EFF and ACLU that litigate ALPR privacy cases.

Question 10

Can I request my own ALPR data?

Accepted Answer

In many states, you can submit a public records request (FOIA or state equivalent) to a law enforcement agency asking for ALPR records associated with your license plate. Success varies widely — some agencies comply readily, others claim law enforcement exemptions. California's CCPA gives residents additional rights to request data held by private companies, which may apply to Flock Safety's commercial operations.

Question 11

Does Flock Safety share data with federal agencies?

Accepted Answer

Flock Safety's terms of service and law enforcement contracts have been scrutinized by privacy researchers. Documents obtained via public records requests have shown that Flock data has been shared with federal agencies including ICE and the DEA through inter-agency data-sharing agreements. Flock Safety has stated it complies with all applicable laws and requires agencies to use data only for lawful purposes.

Question 12

Which states have ALPR laws?

Accepted Answer

As of 2024, more than 20 states have enacted some form of ALPR regulation. States with notable laws include: California (60-day retention limit, audit requirements), New Hampshire (one of the strictest — prohibits most government ALPR use), Utah (30-day retention), Arkansas (60-day retention), and Maine (warrant required for historical data). Many states have no ALPR-specific laws at all, leaving regulation to individual agency policies.

Question 13

Is it legal to photograph a Flock camera?

Accepted Answer

In the United States, photographing objects visible from a public space — including cameras mounted on public utility poles or street signs — is generally protected under the First Amendment. You do not need permission to photograph a Flock camera from a public sidewalk or road. Always photograph from a safe location, do not trespass on private property, and do not obstruct traffic.

Question 14

Can HOAs install Flock cameras without resident approval?

Accepted Answer

This depends on the HOA's governing documents and state law. Many HOAs have broad authority to install security equipment in common areas without a resident vote. However, some states require HOA boards to notify residents or hold a vote before installing surveillance systems. If you are concerned about an HOA Flock installation, review your CC&Rs and contact your state's HOA regulatory office.

Question 15

What is Flock Locations?

Accepted Answer

Flock Locations is a community-powered map that tracks reported Flock Safety ALPR camera locations across the United States. Our goal is to make surveillance infrastructure visible and accountable. Anyone can report a camera they've spotted, and the community can confirm sightings to improve accuracy.

Question 16

How accurate is the map?

Accepted Answer

Accuracy varies by location. Cameras marked as 'verified' have been confirmed by multiple independent community reports. Unverified cameras are based on a single report and may contain errors in location or details. We encourage users to confirm sightings they can personally verify and to flag any cameras that appear to have been removed.

Question 17

How do I report a Flock camera?

Accepted Answer

Click the 'Report a Camera' button in the navigation or visit flocklocations.com/report. You'll be asked to drop a pin on the map at the camera's location, then fill in details like the street address, mounting type, and any notes. You can optionally upload a photo to help the community verify the sighting.

Question 18

How does camera verification work?

Accepted Answer

When a camera is first reported, it is marked as unverified (shown in orange on the map). Other community members can click 'Confirm This Sighting' on the camera's detail page. Once three independent users confirm the same camera, it is automatically marked as verified (shown in red). The first confirmation on an unverified camera also triggers immediate verification.

Question 19

Can I download the camera data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The full dataset is available for download on our Press page at flocklocations.com/press. Data is provided in CSV and JSON formats under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. You are free to use, share, and build on the data as long as you credit Flock Locations.

Question 20

Is Flock Locations affiliated with Flock Safety?

Accepted Answer

No. Flock Locations is an independent community project with no affiliation, partnership, or relationship with Flock Safety Inc. We are not sponsored by or connected to Flock Safety in any way. This site is operated by privacy advocates and concerned citizens who believe surveillance infrastructure should be publicly documented.

Question 21

How can I get my city added to the map?

Accepted Answer

The easiest way is to report cameras you've spotted in your city using the Report a Camera form. If you know of a large deployment in your area and want to help seed the data, you can also reach out via the contact information on our Press page. We welcome contributions from journalists, researchers, and community organizers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Flock Safety Cameras?

Privacy & Your Rights

State Laws & Regulations

About This Map

See the cameras near you