Automated License Plate Readers Deployed by Decatur Police and Across Northern Minnesota

The Decatur Police Department in Alabama operates 44 automated license plate readers supplied by Flock Safety. The system captures license plate text, date, time, location and basic vehicle characteristics, retaining data for 30 days. Officers use the alerts to locate stolen vehicles, missing persons and vehicles linked to active warrants, with oversight by 41 authorized users and five administrators. Mayor Kent Lawrence stressed that the technology must remain limited, accountable and transparent.

In northern Minnesota, more than 250 Flock cameras have been installed from Fargo to Duluth, covering cities such as Detroit Lakes, Bemidji and Hibbing. A public map maintained by the advocacy group DeFlock documents these locations. While law‑enforcement agencies cite the cameras as tools for crime prevention and investigation, privacy advocates argue they infringe on civil liberties, and some communities have illegally removed or destroyed the devices.

Both reports highlight the rapid expansion of AI‑powered license‑plate surveillance in the United States and the accompanying debates over public safety benefits versus privacy concerns.