Community reporting guide
How to report a Flock Safety or ALPR camera
Every camera on this map was submitted by someone like you. This guide walks you through what counts as a reportable camera, what information to gather, and how to submit a sighting in under two minutes.
What counts as a reportable camera
You don't need to be certain — suspected cameras are welcome. Report any of the following:
Flock Safety ALPR
The most common type — a white or gray rectangular housing, typically mounted 10–15 feet high on a pole, often with a solar panel or cellular antenna.
Generic ALPR / license plate reader
Any camera system clearly designed to read license plates — look for angled mounting, IR illuminators, or signage indicating plate scanning.
Suspected ALPR
Not sure? Report it anyway. The community can help verify. Mark it as 'suspected' in the camera type field.
Recon Scout or similar
Smaller pole-mounted units sometimes used alongside Flock systems. If it looks like a license plate reader, it belongs on the map.
What to gather before you report
The more detail you provide, the more useful the report. Here's what to note:
Exact address or intersection
The street address or nearest cross-street. If there's no address, note the nearest landmark (e.g., 'north side of Oak St at the I-95 on-ramp').
What it's mounted on
Utility pole, traffic signal, dedicated post, building wall, or other. This helps others find and verify the camera.
Camera type
Choose the closest match: Flock Safety, generic ALPR, or suspected. Don't worry if you're unsure — mark it suspected.
A photo (optional but valuable)
A clear photo dramatically increases the chance of community verification. Shoot from a safe distance — never stop in traffic to photograph a camera.
Any notes
Direction the camera faces, whether it has a solar panel, visible signage, or anything else that might help others identify it.
How to submit a report
Already on the map? If the camera has already been reported, use the Confirm Sighting button on its detail page instead of submitting a duplicate.
Open the report form
Go to the Report a Camera page. You can also tap the red 'Report a Camera' button on the live map.
Pin the location
Click or tap the map to drop a pin at the camera's location, or type the address into the search box. Drag the pin to fine-tune the position.
Fill in the details
Select the camera type, enter the address, choose what it's mounted on, and add any notes. All fields except location are optional, but more detail helps.
Add a photo (optional)
Upload a photo if you have one. JPG or PNG, up to 10 MB. Photos are reviewed before being shown publicly.
Submit
Hit Submit. Your report goes live on the map immediately as an unverified sighting. Other community members can then confirm it.
What happens after you submit
Your report appears on the map right away, marked as unverified (orange). It stays unverified until other community members independently confirm the same camera.
Once a camera receives multiple independent confirmations, it is marked verified (red). Verified cameras carry more weight in route exposure estimates and data exports.
If you spot a camera someone else already reported, use the 'Confirm Sighting' button on its detail page instead of filing a duplicate report. Confirmations help the verification system without cluttering the map.
Why community reporting matters
Flock Safety does not publish a list of where its cameras are installed. In many jurisdictions, law enforcement agencies that contract with Flock are not required to disclose locations — and many choose not to. Community-built maps like this one are among the most comprehensive public records of ALPR camera locations available.
This map exists because thousands of people took a few minutes to report a camera they noticed. Every report adds to a dataset used by journalists, researchers, privacy advocates, and ordinary people who want to understand the surveillance infrastructure in their neighborhoods.
Your report is licensed under CC BY 4.0 and ODbL 1.0, meaning it can be freely used for research, journalism, and public-interest analysis — with attribution.
A note on safety
Never stop your vehicle in traffic, trespass, or put yourself in danger to photograph or document a camera. Most cameras are visible from a public sidewalk or while stopped at a red light. If you can't safely document a camera, a location pin and camera type alone are still valuable.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to create an account to report a camera?
No. Reports are anonymous and require no account or login. You can optionally provide an email address if you want to receive updates about cameras you've reported.
What if I'm not sure it's a Flock camera?
Report it anyway and select 'Suspected ALPR' as the camera type. The community can help verify. Our identify guide can help you recognize common ALPR equipment.
Can I report a camera I saw weeks or months ago?
Yes. Historical sightings are welcome. Just note in the comments that the report is based on a past observation, and include the approximate date if you remember it.
What if the camera has already been reported?
Use the 'Confirm Sighting' button on the existing camera's detail page. This adds a confirmation without creating a duplicate entry.
Will my photo be shown publicly?
Photos are uploaded and reviewed before any public display. Photos that include people's faces, license plates, or other identifying information are not shown publicly. Uploading a photo does not guarantee it will be displayed — it may be withheld during review.
Can I report a camera outside the United States?
Currently the map focuses on U.S. cameras. International reports may be added in the future — for now, U.S. locations only.
Ready to add a camera to the map?
For most people it takes just a couple of minutes. Your report helps thousands of people understand the surveillance infrastructure in their communities.