- A civil case in Washington came down to a rather interesting outcome.
- Specifically, a judge ruled Flock camera images are public records.
- In response, two cities shut down their systems amid privacy concerns.
Across the United States, thousands of automated license plate readers quietly watch the roads. Some ride along in police cruisers, others perch on telephone poles or hang above intersections, clicking away as cars glide past. They record everything in sight, regardless of who’s behind the wheel.
It’s a vast, largely invisible network, one that most people never think twice about until it makes the news.
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Well, it turns out that those pictures are public data, according to a judge’s recent ruling. And almost as soon as the decision landed, local officials scrambled to shut the cameras down.
What Sparked the Case?
The ruling stems from a civil case involving the Washington cities of Sedro-Woolley and Stanwood. Both sued to block public records requests filed by Oregon resident Jose Rodriguez. He works in Walla Walla and sought to access the images as part of a broader inquiry into government surveillance.
Judge Elizabeth Yost Neidzwski sided with Rodriguez, concluding that the data “do qualify as public records subject to the Public Records Act.”
The decision immediately led both cities to deactivate their Flock systems. Flock cameras are mounted along public roadways and continuously photograph passing vehicles, including occupants, regardless of whether any crime is suspected.
How the Cameras Work
While the technology is marketed as a tool to identify stolen cars or vehicles connected to active investigations, records already released to Rodriguez and reviewed by KING 5 show the cameras capture everyone, all the time.
Rodriguez said the indiscriminate nature of the technology motivated his requests: “I felt like that’s violating my privacy, everyone’s privacy,” he explained. “It’s taking pictures of every single vehicle that passes by.”
That sweeping action, the system photographing everyone, was central to the judge’s ruling. Attorneys for the two cities argued that releasing these images would compromise the privacy of innocent people and could expose them to risks of stalking.
A Privacy Paradox
Ironically, that’s the same argument that so many who oppose these cameras make. Although law enforcement and other private companies say that access is limited, the reality is that no system is without flaw.
There are documented cases of those with approved access using the system criminally. Hackers could also gain access.
Ultimately, the judge ruled that because there were so many photos, which are largely disconnected from active criminal investigations, they had to be released under state law.
Rodriguez’s attorney, Tim Hall, said the ruling highlights how little oversight exists. Hall noted that Flock’s software extends beyond simple plate recognition and is capable of identifying vehicles through model details, dents, bumper stickers, and roof racks.
Attorneys for the cities said they will review the decision before determining whether to appeal. For now, their Flock cameras aren’t coming back online.
Credit Flock Safety
