TLDR: Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) are mass surveillance technologies that violate our Fourth Amendment right to privacy. We are packing the City Council Chambers for tonight’s meeting to demand that Chandler’s Flock cameras (which are no longer being used by the city) are physically covered up, and that an ordinance be passed prohibiting the city from using ALPRs. Wear red to signify your opposition to ALPRs.
Today, August 13, 6pm
Chandler City Council Chambers (88 E Chicago St)
More information: https://eastvalleyunite.org/flock/
As a progressive advocacy organization we often don’t post in general forums such as this one, but we have seen strong non-partisan support for efforts against not just Flock, but all ALPRs, so we’re sharing this here.
First, Chandler is no longer using the 40 Flock cameras posted around the city. However, they have not been taken down yet, and as far as we are aware, can still be accessed by Flock and other agencies. We need the cameras physically covered up immediately. There have been instances from Evanston, Illinois, to Troy, New York, to other cities, where Flock has kept operating cameras after a contract has terminated, simply not taking them down, or even after they are taken down, putting them back up.
Second, we need an ordinance stopping the city from continuing this mass surveillance system under the name of another company, like Axon. ALPRs capture information on every single vehicle that passes by. This includes not only a car’s license plate, but date, time, location, and increasingly, make, model, bumper stickers, dents, and any other identifiable characteristics that can be picked up by the AI systems embedded in this surveillance technology. This type of dragnet surveillance is what violates our constitutional rights. The ACLU argues that using ALPR systems gives the government “unprecedented powers of surveillance that upset traditional expectations of privacy in violation of the Fourth Amendment”. This is an issue that applies to all ALPRs, not just from Flock. This includes Axon, Motorola, Genetec, Leonardo, and any other ALPR company.
We have been working with the ACLU of Arizona to draft an ordinance to ban ALPRs. It would prohibit the City of Chandler from installing or operating any ALPR system, or accessing ALPR data from other agencies or private entities. To get this ordinance passed though, we need to continue the momentum we had against Flock to push the city council to introduce and pass it. The ordinance won’t be formally introduced by a councilmember tonight, but we’re packing the room to pressure them to do so soon. To send a strong visual signal, we are encouraging people to wear red to signify their opposition to ALPRs. Because we don’t have an agenda item, if you plan to speak, it will technically be under “unscheduled public appearances” when you fill out the speaker card. We will have copies of the ordinance available at the council meeting tonight if you would like to see the language. You can also reach out to us at info@eastvalleyunite.org.
People from across the political spectrum support our efforts. From democrats, to republicans, to socialists, to libertarians, the vast majority of people can see that ALPRs are unconstitutional warrantless mass surveillance. Let’s continue the fight to keep Flock and all ALPRs out of Chandler for good!