r/DeFlockILM

This Deflock Friday... progress! The tide is turning against mass surveillance technology in our town.

I went to Fuquay Varina town hall for the 3rd time to respectfully address the Town Board about Flock/ALPR spy cameras.

I shared with the FV Town Board what their peers across the State are doing. In the past year, 7 city/town Boards and 7 country Sheriffs have terminated their Flock/ALPR contracts.

Reminder:
❌ 91% of citizens polled want FV to cancel our ALPR contract
✅ 3% want FV to maintain its contract as is.
✅ 6% want to expand our ALPR contract

The FV Town Board however is ignoring all citizens opinions on Flock/ALPR as there has never been a public review, referendum, Board Vote, annual budget mention or agenda items referencing this mass surveillance technology.

The good news: Commissioner Vorren (a nuclear physicist!) confirmed to me that next Town Board meeting Flock/ALPR will be an agenda item. This is HUGE. This is the first time the Town has formally acknowledged the presence of this mass surveillance technology.

FV PD Chief Smith will be giving a presentation on his dept's use of ALPR and then the public is invited to comment after.

Y'all: do me a favor. We need to PACK THE ROOM on Monday, Nov 2nd at 7 PM. Be there!

Lastly, I'd like to shine a light on the Board members and their stances on mass surveillance technology. I hope this helps you the next time they are up for re-election.

🟢 Commissioner Vorren:
Generally supportive of a public debate on Flock/ALPR. Has privacy concerns about the tech. Agreed to meet with me in August to discuss this matter.

🔴 Commissioner Haynes:
Refuses to acknowledge Flock/ALPR. Declined to meet with me to discuss.

🟡 Commissioner Adcock:
Generally supportive of a public debate on Flock/ALPR. Has privacy concerns about the tech. Agreed to meet with me in August to discuss.

🔴 Commissioner Smith:
Refuses to acknowledge Flock/ALPR. Ignored all 3 emails I sent to him requesting a meeting. De facto declined to meet with me to discuss the matter.

🔴 Mayor Pro Tem Gardner:
Refuses to acknowledge Flock/ALPR. Declined to meet with me to discuss the matter.

🔴 Mayor Harris:
Acknowledged on Oct 22nd board meeting that Flock/ALPR mass surveillance technology was one of the primary topics discussed at the NC Mayors Association meeting in September 2026. Declined to meet with me to discuss.

I hope their reluctance to hear your voice on this topic guides you at the ballot box.

The fight to be heard continues.

~~~~~~~~

Matt vs Mass Surveillance
Chapter 8: Matt Goes to Town Hall (Again)
05 October 2026

#deflock #deflockNC

At a Sept. 8, 2026 meeting, Sheriff Brian Chism told the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners, "No disrespect, ma'am, but I don't work for you. I work for the citizens." Commissioner Pat Sykes answered: "I can tell you we do set your budget and that is part of our job, and we can amend your budget at any time."

Here's the law behind that exchange:

• The sheriff is a constitutional officer, but the Constitution creates the office — it doesn't fund it. The General Assembly gave appropriations to the county board (G.S. 159-13), which may set the sheriff's budget "whether greater or less than" what he requests (Hubbard v. County of Cumberland).
• The protected floor is short: the sheriff's salary, at least two deputies "reasonably compensated," a jail staffed to State minimum standards, and capacity to serve process and attend court. No statute sets a minimum dollar amount above that.
• Using each county's adopted FY2026-27 budget, we compared that floor to the total Sheriff's Office + jail appropriation in five Cape Fear counties. In every one, roughly 60–70% sits above the floor — legally discretionary.
• A Flock/Fusus/Axon contract lives entirely in that discretionary band. Macon County defunded its Flock cameras; New Hanover cancelled its contract before the term was up (the standard Flock agreement has no cancellation fee — you just forfeit prepaid fees).

Honest caveat, which we put in the article too: "discretionary" is a legal characterization, not a claim a court would let a board zero out a sheriff's office. A sheriff would argue the functional floor is higher. But a single surveillance contract is the easy case.

Full write-up with the five-county chart, the numbers sourced to each adopted ordinance, and the statutes: https://deflockilm.org/how-far-can-commissioners-cut-sheriff-budget/

Atkinson just set the standard for North Carolina.

Tonight, the Town of Atkinson adopted an ordinance prohibiting automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras — including Flock — within its town limits. It is the first outright ALPR ban in North Carolina.

The ordinance is short and direct: "No automated license plate reader cameras shall be installed and located within the corporate limits of the Town of Atkinson."

The Town relied on its authority under N.C.G.S. § 160A-174 and on Article I, Section 19 of the North Carolina Constitution. It made its reasons plain: residents and the public should not be subjected to unreasonable searches by any level of government.

In September, Rockingham County passed the first ALPR ordinance in the state — guardrails that require a public hearing and a public report before any camera goes up. Atkinson went further.

I was in the room tonight. Thank you to Mayor Gary Alsup and the Atkinson Board for reading the record and acting on it.

This is a town of a few hundred people. Privacy does not depend on population. Every town and county in the Cape Fear region holds the same authority Atkinson used tonight.

Privacy is a right — not a privilege.

Read more and sign the petition: DeFlockILM.org

#DeFlockILM #Flock #ALPR #Privacy #NorthCarolina #CapeFear #FourthAmendment