r/u_ittollsforthee1231

Greetings fellow Knightdalers!

I’m planning on attending the upcoming public comment session with our Town Council to talk about the use of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in Knightdale. The session is on Wednesday, Aug 19, starting at 7 PM in the Town Hall.

If, like me, you have concerns about the presence of Flock and other ALPRs in our community, I hope to see you there!

I recently spoke with Assistant Town Manager Dustin Tripp (dustin.tripp@knightdalenc.gov) about the status of ALPRs in Knightdale.

Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

• Knightdale PD operates 24 fixed ALPRs and 4 mobile ALPRs. They do not know how many privately operated cameras are in use. However, you can see reported cameras in our area here (map linked) or via deflock.org.
• Authorized uses of the cameras include: Locating stolen vehicles, stolen or lost license plates; Locating missing, endangered, abducted, or wanted persons (including Amber, Silver, and Blue Alerts); Investigating crimes, support arrests, prosecutions, post-conviction confinement, or supervision; Assisting other law enforcement agencies pursuant to a written request for a legitimate law enforcement purposes; Manual hot-list entry only for a documented and time-limited legitimate law enforcement purpose
• Collected data is deleted after 30 days with a statutory maximum of 90 days. Longer retention requires a preservation request or warrant.
• A system administrator designated by the Knightdale Chief of Police manages access, training, and compliance.
• Reviews of collected data are conducted quarterly and reported directly to the Chief of Police.

I’ve asked the following additional questions, for which I’m awaiting a response:

• Where are the locations of the ALPRs being used by Knightdale PD? Is there a map available for the public?
• Did Knightdale PD or the Town of Knightdale at any point seek public comment or other input from the wider community regarding the installation and use of Flock Cameras or other Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs)? 
• Was there a vote by Town Hall members regarding the decision to sign this contract with Flock? If so, do we have access to know how our elected officials voted?
• How much does the contract with Flock cost annually? How are those funds allocated?
• When did Knightdale PD originally go into contract with Flock? When is the next renewal period? 
• Are the quarterly audits of the collected data and/or use open for public review? 
• What positions, if any, have Town Council members taken regarding the installation and use of ALPRs? 
• Is there any policy ensuring that police officers who have been on any form of disciplinary action will not be permitted to use the cameras/access the data?

 

Some additional resources worth considering:

• The State of Flock in North Carolina: A Town-by-Town Tracker
• What the Flock?: An Explainer on the Controversial License Plate Reading Cameras Deployed Across the Triangle
• Hillsborough, Chatham County, and Pittsboro have canceled their contracts with Flock, citing concerns about privacy, digital security, and opportunities for misuse.
• No Charges, No Transparency: How Flock Misuse Stays Hidden in North Carolina
• ICE Taps into Nationwide AI-Enabled Camera Network, Data Shows
• Flock Safety’s AI Cameras Misread Plates. Innocent People Pay. (paywall removed)
• Case by Case: Every Reported License Plate Camera Error to Date
• Why a Flock Employee Quit: ‘They Lied’ (paywall removed)
• deflockraleigh.org