Flock Safety ALPR Errors Lead to Wrongful Police Stops Across the United States

A study by the Institute for Justice found that automatic license‑plate readers (ALPR), largely supplied by Flock Safety, have repeatedly produced misreads that resulted in innocent drivers being detained, sometimes at gunpoint, and jailed for days to weeks. Errors stem from the technology’s difficulty distinguishing similar characters (e.g., 0 vs. O) and from human data‑entry mistakes. The report cites multiple incidents, including Colorado drivers placed on a “hotlist” after misread plates, an Arkansas couple stopped while holding a six‑week‑old baby, and a San Diego case where a red Alfa Romeo was mistakenly linked to a crime. Flock Safety claims 93% accuracy but processes about 20 billion plates monthly, implying over a billion erroneous readings. The Institute’s findings are prompting lawsuits by residents of San Jose and Norfolk challenging municipal ALPR surveillance networks.